We saw more walk-off magic tonight. Willmar got two in the ninth to defeat Thunder Bay. Waterloo did it to Mankato in the 10th and Kalamazoo hit a walk-off in their second consecutive game to defeat Wisconsin Rapids. With that win, the Growlers pushed Rapids into a 4th place tie while Kalamazoo and Rockford are tied for second in the south.
Kenosha 1, Rockford 9
The Rockford Rivets scored early and often in their 9-1 defeat over the Kenosha Kingfish. Rockford exploded for five in the second which was powered by a two-run single from Tim Lilly (Villanova). The Rivets went up six in the fourth, but Kenosha got on the board with a run from a single by Scott Dubrule (Jacksonville). Rockford got a pair in the seventh which started from an error and then one more came in the ninth on an RBI double by Ryan Cole (Notre Dame). Evan Snyder (Parkland) won his first, throwing six, giving up just one on four hits and four walks while striking out six.
Mankato 3, Waterloo 4 (10 Innings)
The Waterloo Bucks walked it off in the bottom of the 10th inning to go on an defeat the Mankato MoonDogs 4-3. The MoonDogs got one in the first inning from a wild pitch. Blaze Glenn (Youngstown) singled in the second run for Mankato in the fourth. Deion Thompson (Western Illinois) put Waterloo on the board in the bottom half form an RBI single. Mankato added one more in the fifth. Waterloo fought back, tied it In the ninth inning on a bases loaded walk and RBI single. Then with two on and one out in the 10th inning, Jeff Demling (New Mexico) hit the game-winner home from a single.
Fond du Lac 2, Lakeshore 1
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders scored twice in the final three innings and defeated the Lakeshore Chinooks 2-1. Zach Frey (Heartland CC) pitched 4.1 scoreless for Fondy, allowed just one in the fifth on three hits and two walks while striking out one. The Chinooks run came on a sac fly out by Mike Aiello (UW-Whitewater). The Chinooks got six from Brendan McGuigan (Richmond), allowed nothing on five hits and one walk while striking out seven. Alex Henwood (Nebraska) drove in a run from a double in the seventh and Chis Ayers (Indiana State) gave the Spiders the lead in the eighth on an RBI single. Nathan Thomas (Northern Illinois) then pitched the final inning scoreless and picked up his second save of the season.
St. Cloud 3, Eau Claire 1
The St. Cloud Express only let up one run late to the Eau Claire Express and one game the 3-1. The Rox got one in the second on an RBI fielder’s choice. St. Cloud went up two in the fifth when Gus Steiger (South Dakota State) connected on a single and knocked in a run. Andrew Mitchel (San Jose State) threw six, only let up one hit and one walk while striking out seven. The Rox got their third in the seventh, but the Express got on the board in the eighth from a Spencer Myers (Notre Dame) RBI single. Despite the run, John Matthews (Kent State) threw three and converted his first save.
Bismarck 1, Rochester 4
The Rochester Honkers prevented a late rally by the Bismarck Larks to go ahead and defeat the Bismarck Larks 4-1. The Honkers scored three in the second which was capped off by Jaylon McLaughlin (Nevada) hitting an RBI single. David Lemasters (Lake Erie) improved to 3-0 tonight, threw six, gave up just five hits and one walk while striking out seven. The Honkers scored once more in the eighth, the Larks got one in the top of the ninth, but a double play ended the game.
Wisconsin 0, Battle Creek 7
The Battle Creek Bombers used a five-run fourth to power ahead of the Wisconsin Woodchucks and win the game 7-0. The Bombers scored right away in the second when Jalen Thomas (Madonna) hit a solo shot. Battle Creek then took a six-run lead in the fourth which was stipend by a two-run single from Michael Brown (Wofford). The Bombers scored once more in the fifth and won the pitcher’s duel in the final four innings. Chase Wheatcroft (Cal State Stanislaus) threw the first five innings, gave up just two hits and two walks while striking out two for the win. Three relievers threw the final four, allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out three.
Thunder Bay 4, Willmar 5
The Willmar Stingers got two in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Thunder Bay Border Cats 5-4. Thunder Bay got two in the third to take the lead which was started by Billy Cook (Pepperdine) going deep to start the inning. The Stingers took the lead for three in the bottom half which was powered by a two-run single from John Trousdale (Alabama). Thunder Bay took the lead again in the fourth from a pair of runs. In the bottom of the ninth, Matt Malkin (Alabama) drove in a run on a sac fly. Two batters later, there was an error from the catcher which scored Richie Garcia (FGCU) to win the game.
Wisconsin Rapids 2, Kalamazoo 3
The Kalamazoo Growlers did it again in the ninth inning, defeated the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 3-2. Kalamazoo got one in the first inning when Niko Kavadas (Notre Dame) singled in a run. Kavadas knocked in another in the third to give Kalamazoo a two-run lead. Jarrod Watkins (Indiana State) homered to put the Rafters on the board in the eighth. They then tied things up in the ninth inning. Late inning man Mason McReaken (SIUE) came in for Rapids with runners on in the bottom half. Kavadas delivered in the clutch once again and this time it was a walk-off RBI double.
Duluth 6, La Crosse 2
The Duluth Huskies used a big fifth inning to take the lead and go on to defeat the La Crosse Loggers 6-2. Brandon Raquet (William & Mary) homered right away to get things started in the bottom of the first for the Loggers. They got another one in the third on an unearned run. The fifth inning for the Huskies saw five runs get across. Three of them came when Kyle Jacobsen (South Carolina) went deep. Duluth managed one more in the eighth and between starter Hunter Bigge (Harvard) and closer Levi Shandrew (Eastern New Mexico) the Loggers stayed four-behind for the final four innings.
Green Bay 1, Madison 5
The Madison Mallards used more late run magic in their 5-1 victory over the Green Bay Bullfrogs. Madison scored twice in the fifth to get on the board from two RBI singles by Drew Ober (UNC Charlotte) and Jake Randa (NW Florida State). Sean Leland (Illinois) threw seven, gave up just one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three in his second win for the Mallards. The only run came in the seventh on an error, but was still earned. Jayse McLean (NDSU) then started a three-run eighth with a two-run triple to add insurance runs. Nicholes Morales (San Jose State) was needed for the final two outs of the game and converted his first save.
Schedule for June 15:
Kenosha @ Rockford (6:35 PM)
Mankato @ Waterloo (6:35 PM)
Fond du Lac @ Lakeshore (6:35 PM)
St. Cloud @ Eau Claire (7:05 PM)
Bismarck @ Rochester (7:05 PM)
Wisconsin @ Battle Creek (7:05 PM)
Thunder Bay @ Willmar (7:05 PM)
Wisconsin Rapids @ Kalamazoo (7:05 PM)
Duluth @ La Crosse (7:05 PM)
Green Bay @ Madison (7:05 PM)
