The La Crosse Loggers jumped out to a 1-0 lead after three innings, but the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters fought back with single runs in the fifth and seventh to take the game 2-1. Relief pitcher Jesse Arreola (Cal Baptist) earned the win while Brad Douthit (USC) got the save. Rafter’s designated hitter Craig Shul (UNLV) had three hits on the night.
Eau Claire Express starter Rudy Jaramillo threw a complete game to beat the Battle Creek Bombers by a score of 8-3 in front of 1,942 fans. Jaramillo threw a six hitter over 9.0 innings and struck out five Bomber batters. Jaramillo moves to 3-1 on the season with a 1.70 ERA. Woodchuck starter Cory Hall (Santa Clara) threw a three hitter over 8.1 innings.
Duluth Huskies Cody Asche (Nebraska) was at it again at the plate on Friday night. Asche was 3-for-5 on the night with one run scored and five RBI. Asche improved his batting average to .311 and had a triple on then night. Cody is currently tied for the league lead in home runs at seven with Harold Riggins (NC State/Madison)
Brainerd 10, Thunder Bay 2 The Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers put on an offensive show Friday night at Port Arthur Stadium. The Lunkers knocked out 15 hits while all but one Lunker starter registered a hit. Brainerd’s Chadd Krist (California Berkeley) was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBI. Border Cats Jeff Deblieux (South Alabama) had two hits in the loss.
The La Crosse Loggers won game two of their double header Thursday night thanks to Matt Flemer's (California Berkeley) sixth win of the season. Flemer threw 7.0 innings of four hit baseball while only walking one. The 2010 All-Star lowered his season ERA to 1.25 while only walking seven batters in 43.1 innings pitched. Kyle Teague of the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers also threw a great game and earned his third win of the season while striking out nine.
2010 NWL All-Star Jordan Smith (St. Cloud State) showed the Rochester Honkers why he is leading the league in batting average. Smith went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBI on the night to help beat the Honkers 7-5. The Willmar native was a double away from the cycle and also had a stolen base. La Crosse Logger Mike Marjama (Sacramento City CC) also hit well Thursday night. The third basemen had three hits against the Waterloo Bucks in game one of the double header.
The La Crosse Loggers took game one of the double header at Copeland Park by a score of 6-3 over the Waterloo Bucks. Wednesday night starter Kodey Simon (Winona State) took the mound again on Thursday and earned the win throwing 7.0 innings of two run baseball. The Loggers had three players with multi-hit games and were led by All-Star third basemen Mike Marjama (Sacramento City CC) who had three hits. Leadoff batter Tony Mueller (Winona State) had a full stat line with a hit, one steal, a walk, a run scored and two RBI. Waterloo right fielder Phil Keppler (Iowa) had three hits in the loss; two of those hits were doubles.
Blake Schwartz (Minnesota State Mankato) improved his record to 2-2 in 2010 by beating the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers by a score of 6-4. Schwartz threw 7.0 innings of two run baseball while only allowing seven hits and striking out six. Schwartz leads the team in innings pitched at 34.2 and has struck out 23 batters. Schwartz was Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2010 and led the Mankato Mavericks to the D-II College World Series in Cary, NC.
Harold Riggins (North Carolina State) had a monster day at the plate for the Madison Mallards in a losing effort. Riggins was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. His two hits on the day were home runs which ties him for first in the NWL in home runs with seven. The NC State infielder is currently hitting .366 with 17 RBI. Riggins will be competing in the NWL All-Star Home Run Derby this upcoming week in Eau Claire.
The Mankato MoonDogs jumped out to a four run lead and took the game 6-4 from the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers. The MoonDogs starter, Blake Schwartz (Minnesota State Mankato), threw 7.0 innings while only giving up two runs. Tim Fangman earned the save throwing the final 1.0 inning. Jordan Steranka (Penn State) had three RBI while second basemen Sam Lind had three hits and two runs scored. Chadd Kristi (California Berkeley) had three hits in the loss.
