LA CROSSE, WI- The Logger looked to reproduce the 14 run, 17 hit performance they had against the Bombers last night and looked to keep up with the South Division leader Kenosha. Brandon Lawson (South Florida) made his second start of the season for the Lumbermen.
Battle Creek jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the 1st inning when leadoff batter Dan Swain (Siena) hit a triple to the right field corner. He scored two batters later. The Loggers bats were quiet through the first two innings until Keith Skinner (North Florida) homered to right field to tie the game up.
Battle Creek did not keep the game tied for long. The first three Bomber batters reached on a walk, double, and a single, scoring two runs. Just when the momentum seemed to shift back to Battle Creek, La Crosse answered right back.
Zander Clarke (UCLA) opened up with a walk. Ronnie Gideon (Texas A&M) added to it with a single to make it first and second with no one out. Chris Baker moved them over with a bunt. Grant Fennell (Nevada) took the count full before walking to load the bases with only one out. Will Savage (Columbia) hit a fly ball to center, but It was not deep enough for Clarke to tag on. The pressure was on for Skinner, but he came off big, driving in two runs on a single to center field.
Brandon Lawson pitched a great game, striking out 6 through the first three innings, but could not get out of the sixth inning, giving up two more to the Bombers. Michael Echavia (Chabot) relieved Lawson and got out of the scare on his first pitch.
Echavia had one inning of work on the night, before Jordan Jess (Minnesota) came in and he took it the rest of the way. Jess came into the game having not given a run in 7.0 innings on the season. He maintained his prowess striking out 4 of the 8 batters he faced, and only gave up a weak infield single.
The Loggers made quite a comeback attempt in the last two innings.
Mason McCoy (Iowa) doubled to lead off the 8th inning. Zander Clarke walked and Chris Baker was plucked by a pitch to load the bases. The Loggers could only manage a run out of it on a Grant Fennell fielder’s choice. La Crosse came back in the ninth, but couldn’t complete the comeback as they fell 4-5.
La Crosse embarks on their longest road trip of the season visiting Michigan to play Kalamazoo and Battle Creek before matching up with the division-leading Kenosha Kingfish. The Loggers finish it up with a game in Wisconsin Rapids. The next home game is next Friday the 26th against the Rafters. Game time is 7:05.
