The La Crosse Loggers snapped their five game losing streak by beating the Wisconsin Woodchucks 6-5 Tuesday night and Copeland Park.
However, it was the Woodchucks who struck first, scoring three runs early off Loggers' starter Westin Stringer (Jones CC). After a fielder's choice gave the Woodchucks a 1-0 lead, first basemen Brendon Hayden hit a two run RBI single to increase the Woodchucks' lead to 3-0.
Stringer was pulled after three innings, and the Loggers depended on reliever Grant Yost (Sacramento City CC). Yost was respectable giving up two runs (all earned), in four innings, while striking out four. Once again Yost preserved a thin La Crosse bullpen.
The Loggers would strike in the bottom of the fifth when center fielder Mike Nadratowski (Grand Valley State) launched a three-run home run to the party deck in right field. It was the second home run for Nadratowski who has all the Loggers' home runs this season.
Down 5-3 in the seventh, Aaron Knapp (Cal) would single home third basemen Nick Kanavas (Arizona). After an error by Woodchucks pitcher Matt Lambert to advance Knapp to third, Nadratowski would hit him in on a ground out to second.
The Loggers would take the lead in the bottom of the eighth. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Marc Frazier (Nicholls State) hit a chopper to the shortstop whose only play was the first, and pitch runner Jerrod Bravo (Sacramento City CC) scored.
Reliever Breckin Williams (Missouri) got the save for the Lumbermen in the ninth.
The Loggers will hit the road for two games in Wisconsin Rapids next. The first pitch between the Loggers and Rafters is scheduled for 7:05 Wednesday night.