The Willmar Stingers added their name to a host of teams tied for second in the North behind Rochester. The Honkers are hot with five consecutive wins. Madison won its third in a row to force a three-team tie in the North with Wisconsin Rapids and Fond du Lac.

 

Wisconsin Rapids 11, Rockford 2

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters went off in the sixth and defeated the Rockford Rivets 11-2. Trayson Kubo (Stephen F. Austin) got the start for Rapids. He threw five and only gave up one run in the fourth when Connor Rutherford (Lewis) went deep for the Rivets. The Rafters then exploded for nine on seven hits and two Rockford errors. Payton Robertson (Lamar) had two hits for the game and both came in that inning. Jack-Thomas Wold (UNLV) led all hitters with three hits and two RBI with two coming in that inning as well. Rapids put up a pair in the eighth and then the Rivets responded for one in the bottom half, but the side was retired to end the game in the ninth.

Eau Claire 7, Thunder Bay 2

The Eau Claire Express garnered six runs right away in the opening inning as they went on to defeat the Thunder Bay Border Cats 7-2. The first three runs came on two wild pitches and a bases loaded walk. Zac Strange (Winona State) knocked in two more from a single and another came from an RBI ground out. Trent Athmann (Luther) put Thunder Bay on the board in the second from an RBI single. Josh Gaworski (Concordia-St. Paul) got the start, threw four, allowed the one run on four hits while striking out five. The Express got one more in the sixth, but Thunder Bay put up another in the eighth. Rece Dietrich (Duluth) though was able to complete his five innings of relief work and retire the side in the ninth.

Madison 7, Kalamazoo 1

The Madison Mallards used a big eighth inning to get ahead and defeat the Kalamazoo Growlers 7-1. The Growlers got on the board first in the second from an RBI ground out. Madison tied it up in the fifth when Jesse Forestell (Western Michigan) led off the inning with a home run. The Mallards then opened up the flood gates in the eighth with six which started from Jake Randa (NW Florida State) going knocking in three from a double. Dalton Wiggins (Mareitta) got the start for Madison, threw eight innings, only gave up one unearned run on two hits and one walk while striking out one which made way to the bullpen to finish things up.

Fond du Lac 4, Wisconsin 0

The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders got great use out of their pitching staff tonight and defeated the Wisconsin Woodchucks 4-0. Fondy started John Mierzwa (Catholic) and he threw four scoreless, but made way for three relievers who shut down the Chucks. The Spiders got three in the second as two came from Duncan Hewitt (Butler) going deep. The Dock Spiders got another in the eighth from an error and they completed the seven-hit shutout to win the game.

Rochester 3, Waterloo 2

The Rochester Honkers avoided a late threat from the Waterloo Bucks and won the game 3-2. The Honkers scored first in the second when Casey Dunlap (Point Loma Nazarene) hit an RBI single. Another pair came for Rochester in the fifth when they got consecutive RBI singles. Zak Deverman (Illinois) started for the Honkers and threw three. Chad Tworek (Keiser) threw the next five and earned the win. He gave up two in the eighth when Deion Thompson (Western Illinois) connected on a single, but the side was retired in the ninth to end the game.

Kenosha 11, Green Bay 6

The Kenosha Kingfish scored early and often as they defeated the Green Bay Bullfrogs 11-6. Kenosha got on the board in the opening inning with one. The Frogs responded with two in the bottom half. Kenosha tied it in the third, but Green Bay went ahead in the fourth. Finally Kenosha busted out for three in the fifth. They continued to play small ball in the sixth and Charlie Harrigan (Miami (OH)) drove one in from a sac fly. Both teams traded runs in the seventh, but Green Bay came within two in the bottom of the eighth. Kenosha capitalized on walks as three straight came home due to bases loaded walks as that went on to be the final score.

Mankato 5, Willmar 6 (11 Innings)

The Willmar Stingers needed 11 innings to defeat the Mankato Moon Dogs 6-5. Both teams got on the board first trading runs in the third. Josh Elvir (Houston) homered for Mankato and Willmar got theirs from a sac fly. Mankato then took the lead with a pair in the fourth on consecutive sac fly outs. The Stingers doubled that run input by getting four in the fifth as two scored on a single by Richie Garcia (FGCU). Kyle McDonald (Arkansas State) then homered for the MoonDogs which eventually forced extra innings. Willmar got the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th and Matt Malkin (Alabama) knocked in the game-winner from a single.

La Crosse 11, Bismarck 1

The La Crosse Loggers exploded in the fifth inning and defeated the Bismarck Larks 11-1. Both teams traded runs in the opening inning. Korey Lee (California) hit an RBI single for La Crosse and Wyatt Ulrich (St. John’s) scored on an RBI ground out for Bismarck. The Loggers then went ahead in the second and stayed that way all game. Chas Sagedahl (Southeastern CC) pitched six, gave up the one run on one hit, walked four and struck out two for the win. The fifth inning is when La Crosse broke it all open. They got five hits, the Larks committed two errors and three guys scored when Ramon Padilla (Illinois Central CC) delivered a single and that proved enough to be the final score.

Lakeshore 2, Battle Creek 1

The Lakeshore Chinooks got some great pitching and defeated the Battle Creek Bombers 2-1. Lakeshore got their only runs in the second inning from a wild pitch and a sac fly. Nate Odahl (Carthage) threw five scoreless, only allowing six hits and one walk while striking out two. Battle Creek was able to get six scoreless from their reliever Kenuel Dominguez (Olivet Nazarene), but only managed one run. That came in the sixth from a Will Baker (Ball State) RBI single as the final two pitchers for the Chinooks closed the door.

Duluth 11, St. Cloud 2

The Duluth Huskies went up early in the first two innings and went on to defeat the St. Cloud Rox 11-2. The Huskies scored four in the first as Omar Veloz (Fresno State) knocked in two from a single. Duluth then put up five in the next inning. The Rox walked in two and hit another batter with the basses loaded. St. Cloud scored their two in the fourth which included an RBI single by Landon Stephens (Miami (OH)). Duluth got seven solid from Troy Newell (Western Kentucky) as he allowed two on four hits while striking out four. The Huskies got another pair in the seventh as that went on to be the final score.

 

Schedule for June 6:

Green Bay @ Lakeshore (11:35 AM)

Wisconsin @ Madison (6:05 PM)
Duluth @ Waterloo (6:35 PM)
Bismarck @ Eau Claire (6:35 PM)

Fond du Lac @ Rockford (6:35 PM)

Kalamazoo @ Kenosha (6:35 PM)
Rochester @ Mankato (7:05 PM)
Willmar @ Thunder Bay (7:05 PM)
La Crosse @ St. Cloud (7:05 PM)

Battle Creek @ Wisconsin Rapids (7:05 PM)