Sunday’s Northwoods League slate featured 4 games, marking the first matchup in their best-of-three divisional playoff series. Traverse City secured a commanding 6.1 win over Kalamazoo, while Green Bay took an 8-4 victory against Wausau. Duluth opened their series with a 6-2 win over La Crosse, and Mankato walked off St. Cloud 2-1 in an exciting extra-inning finish.
Traverse City 6, Kalamazoo 1
The Traverse City Pit Spitters jumped ahead early and sealed the win with a four-run fourth inning, cruising past the Kalamazoo Growlers 6-1. Cole Prout (Central Michigan University) went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, driving in four runs. Isaac Sturgess (Michigan State University) went 2-for-4, scoring once with two RBIs. Jacob Kucharczyk (Kellogg CC) went 4-for-5 with a double and scored twice. Brodey Acres went 1-for-3 with a double, driving in one run. Nic Mirabella (Maryville College (TN)) earned the win, throwing six innings with six strikeouts, allowing five hits, two walks, and zero earned runs. Drew Ferguson (Kellogg CC) got the save, throwing three scoreless perfect innings with three strikeouts, allowing one walk.
Green Bay 8, Wausau 4
The Green Bay Rockers racked up 14 hits in their 8-4 victory over the Wausau Woodchucks. Eli Selga (Golden West CC) went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run. Xaige Lancaster (University of Hawaii) was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a solo home run, tallying two RBIs, one run scored, and one stolen base. Jeremy Delamota (Fairleigh Dickinson University) went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, scoring twice, and stealing one base. Collin Helms (Harding University) went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and scored twice. Josh Arquette (Panola CC) went 2-for-4, scoring once with one RBI. Steve Marhefke (Upper Iowa University) earned the win, throwing 5.1 innings with two strikeouts, allowing four hits, one walk, and zero earned runs. Drew Aguiar (Cal State Monterey Bay) shut the door, throwing one perfect inning, striking out two of three batters faced.
Duluth 6, La Crosse 2
The Duluth Huskies struck early with six runs in the first four innings and held the La Crosse Loggers scoreless after the fourth, securing a 6-2 win. Ethan Surowiec (University of Florida) went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and a double, tallying three RBIs and two runs scored. Rowan Kelly (UC Santa Barbara) went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, driving in one run and scoring once. Ethan Cole (University of Minnesota) went 1-for-2 with a double and recorded one RBI. Jake Downing (Cal Poly University) went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and collected one stolen base. Evan Rolison (Oklahoma College-Tonkawa) earned the win, throwing 7.2 innings with six strikeouts, allowing six hits, two walks, and one earned run.
Mankato 2, St. Cloud 1
The Rox and MoonDogs dueled to a 1-1 tie through nine innings before Mankato walked it off in the 10th for a 2-1 win. Adrian Beltre Jr. (University of San Diego) came in clutch, driving in the winning run on a sac fly. Josey Williamson (University of Alabama) went 3-for-5 with a double. Caleb Koskie (Indiana University) went 1-for-3 with one RBI. Tyson Leblanc recorded three stolen bases. Caleb Koskie (Indiana University) set the tone, throwing 6.2 innings, collecting ten strikeouts, allowing seven walks, two hits, and one run. Landon Dodge (Sacramento City CC) earned the win, throwing two perfect innings, striking out two of six batters faced.
Monday’s Schedule
Kalamazoo @ Traverse City (7:05 PM ET)
Green Bay @ Wausau (6:05 PM CT)
La Crosse @ Duluth (6:35 PM CT)
Mankato @ St. Cloud (6:35 PM CT)