La Crosse, Wisc.- The Loggers took game 1 of the doubleheader against the Chinooks 5-2.
The suspended game from last night was picked up, scoreless, in the top of the 3rd inning. The rainout forced both teams to dig into their bullpens early, especially harmful on a night of a doubleheader.
Both relief pitchers, Mitch Stalsberg (Winona State) for La Crosse and Joey Stall (Ohio State), started out firing. Both pitchers struck four batters each through their first two innings. In the 5th, both ran into some minor trouble.
Stalsberg was one pitche away from his third consecutive scoreless frame, but a full count pitch that just barely missed the outside edge of the plate walked Evan Harasta (Arizona State). Two batters later Evan’s college teammate, Gage Canning, singled to center to score Harasta. Mitch immediately returned to his dominant ways, striking out his sixth batter to end the inning.
The Logger offense answered back in the next half inning. Jake Hirabayashi (UCLA) walked to lead off the inning. Mason McCoy (Iowa) followed with a single. Gavin Johns (Yavapaii) brought in Hirabayashi on a sacrifice fly to center field. Griffin Conine (Duke) tried to do the same in the next at-bat, but an incredible no-hop throw from deep left field to home plate got McCoy at home for out number three.
The Lumbermen picked up right where they left off. The first five batters of the inning singled, scoring two runs. McCoy grounded into a fielder’s choice, but scored Lorenzo Hampton Jr. (California) to put La Crosse up 4-1.
Mitch Stalsberg made it six innings on 97 pitches. He struck out ten batters and gave up a lone run on two hits.
La Crosse added another run in the 8th inning to make their lead four. Joe Benedetto (Nova Southeastern) secured the win for the Loggers with a scoreless 9th inning.
The two teams square off again tonight, La Crosse tries to make it seven straight wins. Game time is 9 PM.