Sunday’s Northwoods League slate featured 12 games. Four teams walked it off in dramatic fashion Saturday night, as Bismarck, Fond du Lac, Duluth, and La Crosse each sealed thrilling victories in their final at-bats.
Bismarck 2, Willmar 1
The Bismarck Larks walked it off to edge the Willmar Stingers 2-1. Carson Luna (University of Texas) walked it off with a single to centerfield, going 1-for-5 on the day with one RBI. Erick Dessens (Paradise Valley CC) went 1-for-4 with one RBI. Dasan Harris (University of Oklahoma) went 1-for-3 with a double and scored once. Jameson Martin (University of Minnesota) went 1-for-4 with a solo home run. Bryce Stockton (Sacramento State University) earned the win, throwing 1.1 scoreless no-hit innings with one strikeout.
Rockford 9, Royal Oak 4
The Rockford rivets jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, defeating the Royal Oak Leprechauns 9-4. Zeb Allen (University of Central Arkansas) was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4, scoring twice with a solo home run. Ny’zaiah Thompson (Modesto CC) went 1-for-2 with a solo home run. Jayce Blalock (Arkansas-Little Rock) went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run. Nolan Belcher (University of Kentucky) went 2-for-4 with a solo home run. Devan Zirwas (Eastern Michigan University) went 1-for-3 with a two-run double and scored once. Tristan Crane (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) went 1-for-3 with an RBI double and scored once. Gus Allred (University of Northern Colorado) earned the win, throwing three innings with two strikeouts, allowing three hits, two runs, and one walk.
Fond du Lac 10, Wisconsin Rapids 9
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders pulled off a thrilling walk-off win, edging the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 10-9. Matt Hansen (Brigham Young University) was the king of clutch driving in the winning run on a single to right field, going 4-for-5, recording a double, two RBIs, two runs, and one stolen base. Kelson Johnson (Georgia SW State University) went 2-for-3 with a double, tallying two RBIs and one stolen base. Jaron Cotton (University of Nebraska) went 1-for-3, scoring twice with three stolen bases. James Hankerson Jr. (Florida State University) went 1-for-4, scoring once with one RBI. Mason Onate (Pensacola State College) went 2-for-5, recording a double, one run scored, one stolen base, and four RBIs. Noah Ruiz (Biola University) went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and one stolen base. Gunner Gilmore (Air Force) earned the win, throwing three scoreless innings with one strikeout, allowing two walks and one hit.
Green Bay 3, Traverse City 1
The Green Bay used a big sixth inning to take down the Traverse City Pit Spitters 3-1. Collin Helms (Harding University) went 1-for-3 with an RBI double and scored once. Cooper Smith (University of Oklahoma) went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Charlie Iriotakis (William & Mary) went 3-for-4, including a double. Maddox Long (Harding University) earned the win, throwing six innings with seven strikeouts, allowing four hits, two walks, and one run. Jayden Martin (Wallace-Hanceville CC) got the save, throwing three scoreless innings with four strikeouts, allowing three hits.
Kalamazoo 13, Wausau 4
The Kalamazoo Growlers came out swinging to overpower the Wausau Woodchucks 13-4. Noah Coy (University of Notre Dame) went 1-for-2 with a bases-clearing triple and scored once. Jayce Lee (University of Notre Dame) went 2-for-5, scoring once with three RBIs. Gabe Springer (Stanford University) went 2-for-5 with a two-run double and scored once. Avery Thielman (Western Michigan University) went 2-for-4, scoring twice with a solo home run. Noah Malone (Loyola Marymount University) went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Adam Berghorst (Davenport University) earned the win, throwing six innings with four strikeouts, allowing three hits, two walks, and zero earned runs.
Kenosha 14, Battle Creek 2
The Kenosha Kingfish dominated from start to finish, racking up 21 hits in a 14-2 rout of the Battle Creek Battle Jacks. Aidan Camberg (Santa Barbara City CC) was perfect at the plate, going 6-for-6 with a pair of doubles, recording three RBIs and three runs scored. Ivan Dahlberg (Northern Illinois) went 2-for-5, scoring twice with three RBIs. Trent Abel (Cal State Northridge) went 1-for-4 with three RBIs. Jacob Vokal (Davidson College) went 3-for-5, scoring once with two RBIs. Dayton Murphy (Michigan State University) went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles and scored three times. Maximus McClellan (Creighton University) earned the win, throwing 5.1 scoreless innings with six strikeouts, allowing four hits and two walks. Brendan Roberts (Carthage College) had a strong outing, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings, striking out four of eight batters faced, and giving up one hit.
Thunder Bay 8, Eau Claire 7
The Thunder Bay Border Cats held off a late push from the Eau Claire Express to secure an 8-7 victory. Jordan Bach (Southern Illinois University) went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and one stolen base. Ty Hamilton (Florida SouthWestern State College) went 2-for-4, scoring twice with one stolen base. Trey Fikes (University of Nebraska) went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Greg LaChance (University of Illinois) went 2-for-4, drawing one walk and scoring three times. Matthew Cormier (Cal State Northridge) went 2-for-5 with a double, recording two RBIs and one run. Tyler Talbert (University of Texas-Arlington) earned the win, throwing three scoreless no-hit innings, striking out four of nine batters faced. Owen Thomson (Oakland University, MI) got the save, throwing one inning with one strikeout, allowing two walks, one run, and one hit.
Duluth 4, Rochester 3
The Duluth Huskies walked it off, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Rochester Honkers 4-3. Tommy Farmer (University of Texas) went 1-for-4, scoring once, and driving in the winning run. Michael Smith went 1-for-3 with one RBI. Payton Knowles (Gonzaga University) went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Keegan Landis (Colorado Mesa University) went 1-for-3 with a two-run double. Jackson LaLima (University of Houston) went 1-for-4 with a double, scoring once, and driving in one run. Parker Thomas (Wright State University) earned the win, throwing one scoreless inning with two strikeouts, allowing one hit.
St. Cloud 15, Minot 1
The St. Cloud Rox jumped out early and never looked back, dominating the Minot Hot Tots 15-1. Brady Ballinger (University of Kansas) was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a triple, recording four RBIs, two runs, and one stolen base. Ethan Gibson (Virginia Tech) went 3-for-5 with a double, tallying three RBIs and two runs scored. Jackson Cooke (University of Pittsburgh) went 1-for-4 with a double, driving in two runs, and scoring twice. Austin Haley ( Kansas State) went 3-for-4, scoring twice with two RBIs. JP Robertson (University of Mississippi) earned the win, throwing five scoreless innings with five strikeouts, allowing four walks and two hits. Aiden Lieser (University of Nebraska) had a strong outing, throwing two scoreless no-hit innings, striking out five of eight batters faced.
Madison 8, Lakeshore 1
The Madison Mallards rolled past the Lakeshore Chinooks 8-1, with a 14-hit night. Carson Hansen (University of Kentucky) went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run, recording three RBIs. Jordy Lopez (University of California, Berkeley) went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and scored three runs. Dominic Jacoby (Harper College) went 2-for-4, scoring once with two RBIs. Isaac Milburn (Purdue University) earned the win, throwing eight innings with six strikeouts, allowing three hits and zero earned runs.
Mankato 13, Badlands 1
The Mankato MoonDogs dominated the Badlands Big Sticks 13-1, backed by a 14-hit performance. Anthony Avalos (University of Houston) went 3-for-5 with an RBI double, scoring three times and stealing two bases. Nico Libed (University of San Diego) went 2-for-4, scoring once with two RBIs and one stolen base. Evan Saunders (Iowa Western CC) went 1-for-3, scoring once with three RBIs. Adrian Beltre Jr. (University of San Diego) went 3-for-4, scoring three times with one RBI. Cooper Milford (Georgia State University) went 1-for-1, scoring once with two RBIs. Joe Skapinetz (Lafayette College) earned the win, throwing six innings with ten strikeouts, allowing two hits, one run, and one walk.
La Crosse 8, Waterloo 4
The La Crosse Loggers rallied dramatically, plating five runs in the bottom of the ninth to come back and walk off the Waterloo Bucks, 8-4. Mateo Gray (University of Central Florida) was the hero of the game, going 1-for-3 with a walk-off grand slam. Mikey Ryan III (Louisiana State University) went 2-for-3 with a double, recording one RBI, one stolen base, and scoring once. Bobby McDonough (University of Massachusetts) earned the win, throwing 2.1 scoreless no-hit innings to shut out the Bucks.
Monday’s Schedule
Rochester @ Waterloo (12:05 PM)
Rockford @ Madison (6:05 PM)
La Crosse @ Thunder Bay (6:35 PM)
Wausau @ Royal Oak (6:35 PM)
Kalamazoo @ Battle Creek (6:35 PM)
Willmar @ St. Cloud (6:35 PM)
Traverse City @ Wisconsin Rapids (6:35 PM)
Eau Claire @ Bismarck (6:35 PM)
Duluth @ Minot (6:35 PM)
Rochester @ Waterloo (6:35 PM)
Lakeshore @ Green Bay (6:35 PM)
Kenosha @ Fond du Lac (6:35 PM)
Mankato @ Badlands (6:35 PM)