Opening day’s Northwoods League slate featured 12 games. The defending champions, Kalamazoo Growlers, outlasted the Royal Oak Leprechauns 6-5 in an opening day thriller. The St. Cloud Rox shut out the Minot Hot Tots 9-0.

Wausau 3, Kenosha 0

The Wausau Woodchucks used 9 stolen bases and a strong pitching performance to shut out the Kenosha Kingfish 3-0. Christian Smith-Johnson (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) went 2-for-4 at the plate, scoring once and collecting one RBI and two stolen bases. Josh McClintock (Dodge City CC) went 1-for-4, scoring once with two stolen bases. Dylan Schlotterback (Paris JC) went 1-for-4, collecting one RBI and two stolen bases. Keagen Jirschele (South Dakota State University) went 1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base. Dayton Murphy (Michigan State University) went 2-for-4 with one stolen base. Riley Schroeder (Oral Roberts University) earned the win, throwing three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and collecting two strikeouts. Reece Clapp (Bradley University) also had a nice outing, throwing two scoreless innings, striking out five of seven batters faced.

Waterloo 10, Duluth 2

The Waterloo Bucks dominated the Duluth Huskies 10-2, exploding in the eighth with a four-run inning. Jimmy Nugent (Lincoln Trail CC) was a dominant force at the plate, going 4-for-5, recording four RBIs, and a double. Larry Edwards (McNeese State University) did his job at the top of the lineup, going 2-for-4, scoring three times, tallying two RBIs, and a double. Brody Leyboldt (Iowa Western CC) went 1-for-2, drawing two walks and recording two RBIs and a stolen base. Jake Bechtel (North Carolina State University) went 1-for-3, earning his first home run of the season. Nathan Vargo (University of Charleston (WV)) earned the win, throwing two innings, allowing two hits and one run.

Madison 6, Fond du Lac 1

The Madison Mallards erupted in the seventh, scoring four runs to defeat the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders 6-1. With only recording five hits, the Mallards maximized their baserunners, drawing nine walks. Mj Sweeney (Grossmont CC) had a day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a double. Dominic Jacoby (Harper College)  went 2-for-4, driving in two runs on a double. Brock Lulewicz (Wichita State University) went 1-for-2, scoring twice and recording a double.  Merritt Jay (Harding University) earned the win, throwing three innings with three strikeouts, allowing two walks and a hit.

Thunder Bay 12, Eau Claire 11

The Thunder Bay Border Cats roared out to a commanding 12-0 lead through 3.5 innings. But the Express refused to go quietly, storming back with 10 runs in their last six innings. The Border Cats escaped with a one-run win in a wild 12-11 slugfest. Camden Tanner (University of Arkansas-Monticello) was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, collecting five RBI, and two stolen bases. Corey Morro (U of Science & Arts of Oklahoma) went 2-for-5 with a double, recording one RBI. Jeremy Sheffield (Georgetown University (MD)) went 1-for-3, scoring three times with one double and one RBI. Lucas Johnson (Eastern Michigan University) reached base five times, going 1-for-2 with one RBI and one stolen base. Joey Flom (University of Minnesota-Duluth) went 3-for-5, scoring twice with a double, collecting one RBI, and drawing two walks. Alex Hendrickson (University of St. Thomas) went 2-for-4, drawing two walks and collecting three RBIs. Tyler Talbert (University of Texas-Arlington) earned the win, throwing 1.1 innings with one strikeout and allowing two hits, one run, and one walk.

Rockford 2, Traverse City 1

The Rockford Rivets’ pitching staff dominated, striking out thirteen and allowing just three hits in tonight’s tight 2-1 victory over the Traverse City Pit Spitters. Kolby Felix (Colorado Mesa University) and Adison Worthman (Parkland CC) each came around to score, with Tommy Townsend (Butler University) driving in Rockford’s only RBI on a double. Brandon Sanchez (University of Northern Colorado) was a bright spot for the Pit Spitters, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Reece Tarini (Louisiana Tech University) earned the win, throwing one scoreless inning, striking out two of four batters faced. Chandler Alderman (Middle Tennessee State University) threw the first six and recorded eight strikeouts, allowing two hits and one run.

Kalamazoo 12, Royal Oak 10

The Kalamazoo Growlers exploded for seven runs in the first innings and held on despite a furious late comeback by the Royal Oak Leprechauns, pulling out a 12-10 victory. The Growlers’ offense tallied 12 hits and plated runs in four different innings, including a four-run sixth. Brodey Acres (Walsh University) had a monster game, driving in half of the team’s runs, going 3-for-6, with a grand slam, and recording six RBI. Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe (Kent State University) put up a solid performance, going 3-for-5, scoring twice with a two-run home run and a stolen base. Avery Thielman (Western Michigan University) went 2-for-4, scoring twice with a two-run triple and drawing two walks. Tristan Crane (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) was the spark for the Leprechauns, going 2-for-5, scoring twice with a triple and a double, and recording three RBI. Devan Zirwas (Eastern Michigan University) went 2-for-4, scoring once, collecting one RBI, and drawing a walk. Jack Crittendon (Kalamazoo Valley CC) earned the win, throwing five innings, collecting two strikeouts, allowing four hits, three runs, and five walks.

Battle Creek 7, Lakeshore 4

The Battle Creek Battle Jacks used a five-run fourth inning and a clutch two-run rally in the seventh to take down the Lakeshore Chinooks 7-4. Ryan Skjonsby (Washington State University) went 2-for-4, scoring once while driving in two runs. Caleb Estrada (Grand Valley State University) with 2-for-5 scoring twice and recording a stolen base. Halen Otte (Whitman College) went 1-for-3, scoring once, recording a double, and a stolen base. Jacob Kowes (The Master’s University) went 3-for-4 at the plate. Lincoln McVicker (Centralia College) earned the win, throwing two perfect innings with three strikeouts. Austin Wolfe (Bushnell University) threw the first three innings, collecting six strikeouts and allowing two hits.

La Crosse 6, Rochester 5

The La Crosse Loggers pull through and take down the Rochester Honkers 6-5, taking advantage of defensive miscues and timely hitting. Eli Small (University of Kentucky) went 2-for-4, scoring twice, reaching base three times, and recording a stolen base. Cole Belfanti (Golden West CC) went 1-for-5 with a solo home run. Flowers Flowers (Cisco JC) went 1-for-4 with a solo home run. Gavin Taylor (Los Angeles Valley CC), although he did not record a hit, reached base four times and drove in a run with a sac fly. Kennedy Hara (Colorado Mesa University) went 1-for-2, scoring twice, reaching base four times, and recording a stolen base. Joel Roberts (San Joaquin Delta (CA) CC) went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases. Caden Richardson (Weatherford College) earned the win, throwing 4.1 innings with five strikeouts, allowing two hits, two walks, and one run.

St. Cloud 9, Minot 0

The St. Cloud Rox dominated the Minot Hot Tots in tonight’s 9-0 shutout. Tanner Recchio (University of St. Thomas) was the table-setter at the top of the lineup, going 3-for-4 with a HBP and three stolen bases. Tyler Bishop (University of Nebraska Omaha) went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in the sixth. Austin Haley (Kansas State) went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in the fifth. Jackson Cooke (University of Pittsburgh) went 1-for-4 with a solo shot in the seventh. Augusto Mungarrieta (Northwest Florida State CC) went 2-for-3, scoring twice with a double. Wesley Johnson (Winona State University) earned the win, throwing five scoreless innings with three strikeouts and allowing four hits.

Bismarck 5, Mankato 4

The Bismarks Larks used their three final frames to secure a 5-4 victory over the Mankato MoonDogs. Erick Dessens (Paradise Valley CC) delivered at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a triple and one RBI. Julius Ryan (Ottawa University (KS)) went 2-for-3, driving in two runs. Evan Saunders (Iowa Western CC) went 2-for-4, scoring once and drawing a walk. Tony Lira (University of Arizona) went 1-for-4, driving in two runs. Logan McLaughlin (Hillsdale College) earned the win, throwing three scoreless innings with five strikeouts and giving up two hits. 

Green Bay 6, Wisconsin Rapids 2

The Green Bay Rockers capitalized early to secure the 6-2 win over the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. Justin Journette (Norfolk State University) delivered at the plate going 1-for-3, scoring twice with a two-run homerun, tallying three RBI. Collin Helms (Harding University) with 1-for-4 with an RBI triple. Brent Gallegos (Butte CC) went 2-for-4, driving in both runs for the rafters. Alex LePage (Immaculata University) earned the win, throwing five innings, collecting four strikeouts, and allowing four hits and one run.

Willmar 4, Badlands 2

The Willmar Stingers struck early and then closed the deal with a two-run eighth inning to take the 4-2 victory over the Badlands Big Sticks. Bryce Ronken (South Dakota State University) set the tone at the plate, going 2-for-3, scoring twice with a double. Jameson Martin (University of Minnesota) came up clutch with a two-run home run. Matthew Pena (Cal State Northridge) delivered two hits, including an RBI double. Troy Berg (Augustana University (MN)) went 1-for-3, hitting a two-run home run. Coy Defury (Texas State University) went 1-for-4, scoring once with a double. Maclane Finley (Purdue University) earned the win, throwing two scoreless innings with one strikeout and two walks.

Tuesday’s Schedule

Lakeshore @ Battle Creek (11:05 AM)

Kalamazoo @ Royal Oak (11:05 AM)

Traverse City @ Rockford (11:05 AM)

St. Cloud @ Minot (6:35 PM)

Duluth @ Waterloo (6:35 PM)

Rochester @ La Crosse (6:35 PM)

Wausau @ Kenosha (6:35 PM)

Bismarck @ Mankato (6:35 PM)

Madison @ Fond du Lac (6:35 PM)

Wisconsin Rapids @ Green Bay (6:35 PM)

Willmar @ Badlands (6:35 PM)

Thunder Bay @ Eay Claire (7:05 PM)