There was no shortage of close games on Thursday night, as two games went into extra innings in the Northwoods League.

Michigan Pod
Battle Creek Bombers 4, Kalamazoo Growlers 1
The Bombers took advantage of a three-run third inning to glide past the Kalamazoo Growlers. John Malcom (University of Tampa) led the Bombers offense, going 2-3 at the plate with a RBI. T.J. McKenzie (Vanderbilt) went 1-3 with two RBI while Seth Tucker (Hendrix College) was 1-4 on the night with two runs scored. Pablo Arevalo (Southern Illinois) had a solid pitching performance, going five full innings, allowing one run on four hits while recording five strikeouts. It was a slow night for the Growlers offense, but Carson Greene (Stanford) and Garrett Schultz (Xavier) both went 2-4 on the night, with Greene knocking in a run.

Northern Michigan Dune Bears 4, Traverse City Pit Spitters 3
The Dune Bears made their 2020 debut and proceeded to walk-off the defending Northwoods League champions in 10 innings. The magic came in the bottom of the 10th, when Braiden Ward (Washington) drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Larson Fontenot (Northwestern State) and give the Dune Bears their first win of the season. Marty Vincelli-Simard (Sacramento State) led the Northern Michigan offense, going 2-4 at the plate with a triple and a pair of RBI. Bryant Goolsby (Trevecca Nazarene) was the top performer for the Pit Spitters, going 1-3 with a double and two RBI. Lane Koetter (Drury) picked up the win for the Dune Bears, throwing two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and recording three strikeouts.

Wisconsin Pod
La Crosse Loggers 6, Rockford Rivets 4
The Loggers started slow but strung together six runs in the middle innings to beat the Rivets. Braylen Wimmer (South Carolina) led the Loggers offense, going 3-5 with a run scored. JT Thompson (Texas State) had two RBI while HARRIS went 1-5 at the plate, with a run scored and two RBI. Cam Robinson (Louisville) was credited with the win for La Crosse, going three and one-third innings in relief, allowing no runs and just two hits while recording a pair of strikeouts. Jared Freilich (Pennsylvania State) picked up the save after tossing a perfect ninth inning.

Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 4, Green Bay Booyah 3
The Rafters and Booyah needed 12 innings to decide a winner, but in the end, it was the home Rafters who prevailed, scoring a pair of runs in the 12th inning to secure the win. The game ended on a strikeout, that should have been the third out, but the ball got away from the catcher, allowing Jacob Hinderleider (Davidson) to score from third base. Jake Dunham (Northern Illinois) led the Rafters offense, going 3-5 with two RBI while Jack-Thomas Wold (Nevada-Las Vegas) was 2-5 with a double. Brayden Bonner (Dixie State) picked up his first win of the season, throwing three innings, allowing two unearned runs on one hit.

Fond du Lac Dock Spiders/Wisconsin Woodchucks

The Dock Spiders scored six runs in the fourth inning to jump out to a 6-3 lead, but the skies opened up, forcing the game to be suspended. It will be made up on July 19 at 1:05 p.m., and will be played to nine innings. The regularly scheduled game will start 30 minutes after the conclusion, and will be a seven-inning affair.

Minnesota-Iowa Pod
Waterloo Bucks 10, Willmar Stingers 3
The Bucks brought their bats for their home opener, as they easily defeated the Stingers, led by Xane Washington (Nicholls State), who was 3-5 at the dish with two runs scored and two RBI. Levi Usher (Louisville) had a large part in the score, as he went 2-5 with a double, a triple and four RBI for the Bucks. Jalen Smith (California-Davis) added three RBI on two hits while Alonzo Rubalcaba (Santa Barbra City College) was 2-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Will Christopherson (Michigan State) picked up the win for Waterloo, throwing three scoreless innings in relief, allowing one run and one hit with one strikeout.

St. Cloud Rox 7, Rochester Honkers 6

The Rox and Honkers needed 11 innings on Thursday night, but in the end it was the home fans going home happy, as the Rox walked off the Honkers in the bottom of the 11th. Andrew Pintar (BYU) was the hero, as he hit a infield single that allowed Collin Montez (Washington State) to score the game-winning run. Jordan Barth (Augustana) led the Rox offense, going 3-2 with two runs scored. Nate Rombach (Texas Texh) and Jack Kelly (Minnesota) both had three RBI for St. Cloud.

North Dakota Pod
Mandan Flickertails 16, Bismarck Bull Moose 15

The most interesting game of the night was in Bismarck, where the Flickertails and Bull Moose lit up the scoreboard, but still needed 11 innings before reaching a resolution. It was in the top of the 11th when Jackson Loftin (Sam Houston State) tripled to deep center field, scoring Jared Wegner (Creighton) and putting the Flickertails in the lead. Sterling Hayes (Creighton)was the offensive leader for Mandan, going 205 with a double and four RBI. Connor Langreder (Northern Illinois) picked up his second win of the season, throwing one and two-thirds innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits. David Wulie (Azusa Pacific) picked up the save after throwing a perfect bottom of the 11th.

Friday, July 3 schedule (All times Central unless noted)
Rockford Rivets at Green Bay Booyah 4:35 p.m.
Battle Creek Bombers at Kalamazoo Growlers 6:35 p.m. ET
Northern Michigan Dune Bears at Great Lakes Resorters 7:05 p.m. ET
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters at Wisconsin Woodchucks 6:35 p.m.
Willmar Stingers at Waterloo Bucks 6:35 p.m.
Fond du Lac Dock Spiders vs La Crosse Loggers 7:05 p.m.
St. Cloud Rox at Rochester Honkers 7:05 p.m.