The La Crosse Loggers were shutout by the Green Bay Bullfrogs 7-0, to open up a four-game homestand Saturday night at Copeland Park.
The Bullfrogs got the bats working quickly as they jumped all over Loggers' starter Gordon Cardenas (Hawaii). Green Bay scored two runs in the 1st inning, one run in the 3rd, and three in the 4th, all off of Cardenas. Cardenas' final line was six innings pitched, allowing seven runs (all earned), on seven hits, while walking four and striking out five.
The top of the Bullfrogs order did most of the damage Saturday night. The first three hitters for Green Bay, first basemen Matt Beaty, catcher Jamie Ritchie, and center fielder Ivan Vieitez had six of the team's nine hits, and scored all their runs. Vieitez had a monster night going 2-4, scoring one run, and driving in four RBI's, including a three-run home run off Cardenas in the top of the fourth inning. Beaty also homered with a lead-off solo shot in the top of the sixth inning.
Green Bay starter, Ryan McCourt silenced the Loggers' bats by pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up just four hits, walking three, and fanning three Lumbermen. All of the Bullfrogs' pitchers depended on their defense throughout the night. Green Bay turned four double plays on the evening, including three inning-ending double plays.
Designated hitter Cameron Balough (Judson University) had the most success at the plate for the Loggers, going 2-4, while second basemen Nick Kanavas (Arizona) cracked a double off the right-center field wall in the bottom of the fifth to give the Copeland Crazies something to cheer about.
The thin bullpen did a nice job holding off the Bullfrogs as relievers Marc Frazier (Nicholls State) and Breckin Williams (Missouri) tossed a combined three shutout innings, and only allowed two hits.
The two teams will close out their two-game series Sunday evening at Copeland Park with first pitch slated for 5:05.