La Crosse, Wisc. – Battle Creek knocked out 12 hits off Logger pitchers in a 7-5 victory in Copeland. The loss snaps a three-game win streak for La Crosse.
The Bombers struck first in the opening inning. A hit and walk with no outs put runners on first and third. Gary Russo (Miami OH) smashed a three-run home run to right. The top of the order added another run in the 3rd on a RBI single by Lin Li (Nat’l Taiwan Sports University), scoring Brennon Lund (BYU) from second.
Ryan Marks (Columbia) lasted four innings, giving up four runs, but striking out four more. Chris Tate (Trinity) and Tristan Walters (Kankakee CC) both made their Logger debuts tonight.
The Bombers continued to push through in the 7th inning. Lin Li doubled with one out. After a fly out to right, Denz’l Chapman (San Diego State) dropped the third out of the inning, allowing Li to score. Niko Pacheco (Cal State Fullerton) doubled in another run to extend the Bomber lead to four.
Battle Creek put up an insurance run to give themselves a five run cushion going into the final inning. Zander Clarke (UCLA) hit a ground rule double to center that was originally called a home run, but later changed. Mason McCoy hit Clarke in on an attempted double play that got the first out at second base. Jordan Zimmerman (Michigan State) walked and scored on Brock Lundquist’s two RBI double that broke the Logger single season individual record for doubles.
The Loggers were not able to complete the comeback as the Bombers took the game 7-5 for their 20th win of the season. La Crosse fell to 16-10 in the second half, in second place and three games behind Kenosha. Overall, La Crosse is 35-25 and still in control of the second playoff seed.
The Loggers look for vengeance tomorrow night as they face the Bombers tomorrow night at 7:05. Make sure you make the trip down to the park for a “Ballpark Murder Mystery” presented by Pizza Hut. Gates open at 6.
