LA CROSSE, WI – After racing out to an early 6-0 lead, the La Crosse Loggers watched the visiting Wisconsin Rapids Rafters score 14 unanswered runs en route to a 14-7 victory for the Rafters in front of 2,845 fans on wet Friday night at The Lumbeyard.
Friday's game started in similar fashion to the night before when Loggers shortstop Mason McCoy (Iowa) singled to lead off the home half of the first. Jordan Zimmerman (Michigan State) promptly followed with an RBI double and would later come around to score to make it 2-0 La Crosse after one inning of player. The Lumbermen would tack on four more in the second inning and appeared to be on their way, but Wisconsin Rapids had other plans.
The Rafters scored two in the third and two more in the fourth to chase Loggers starter Jake Fromson (Missouri State) before exploding for eight runs in the fifth off of relievers Nolan Gromacki (Missouri) and Ryan Wesely (St. Cloud State). Rapids would add another pair in the sixth to make it 14-6 before La Crossse would push one across again in the bottom half.
McCoy continued to swing a hot bat as he went 4-for-4 on the night to lead the Loggers. Zimmerman added two more hits and three RBI's as well to help lead the offense.
With the loss the Loggers fell to 2-2 on the year and will now travel to Wausau, Wisc. on Saturday to open a two-game set with the Woodchucks. Air time on the Logger Radio Network is set for 6:30 with a first pitch being thrown at 7:05 p.m.