The La Crosse Loggers blew a three run lead and fell in the opener of a two-game series at Copeland Park to the Battle Creek Bombers.  The loss was the Loggers second in the second half of the Northwoods League.

Battle Creek struck first in the top of the first inning when left fielder, David Richards IV (Savannah State), scored on a putout to shortstop Nash Knight (Dallas Baptist).

The Loggers would strike right back with three run in the bottom of the first frame.  Center fielder, Jack Meggs (Washington), scored on a Kevin Zak sacrifice fly.  Knight would score on a throwing error by Richards after Ryne Birk (Texas A&M) singled.  Birk would then score when Luke Persico (UCLA) singled.  Birk would later score again in the the bottom on the third inning when Battle Creek first basemen, Cody Kuzniczci (Northern Kentucky), committed an error on a grounder hit by left fielder, Ryan Kirby (San Diego).

Loggers starter, Adam Cline (Columbia), was rolling until he hit a buzzsaw in the top of the sixth.  After the first two batters reached for Battle Creek, Kuzniczci would belt a three-run home run to left center field to tie the game.  Bombers' catcher Henri Lartigue (Ole Miss), would hit an RBI single to give the Bombers the lead after Loggers' newly entered reliever, Ben Cejka (UW-La Crosse) entered the game .  Cline was charged with the five runs (four earned).

Cejka seemed to have settled down, until Lartigue took him deep in the eighth inning with two outs to give the Bombers a 6-4 lead.  The Bombers would add three more runs in the ninth to take a 9-4 lead.  

The Loggers would attempt to rally after scoring two runs and loading the bases, pitch hitter Mitch Bevacqua (Washington) would hit a chopper to shortstop Brandon Van Horn (Dallas Baptist) who would flip to second base and end the game.

The Loggers and Bombers will conclude their two-game series Monday night at Copeland Park.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.