La Crosse, Wisc. – A good start by Nick Raquet gives La Crosse their first win of the 2nd half, 4-1.
The Loggers threatened out of the gates, with runners on 2nd and 3rd with no out, but were not able to score. They did however get a run in the 2nd. Garrett Zech (South Florida) walked to lead off the inning. He stole 2nd base (20th SB this season) and moved to 3rd when the thrown to 2nd got past the Border Cats’ shortstop. He scored on a Randy Labaut (Arizona) fielder’s choice, after Zech attracted a throw to 3rd that was too wild for the third baseman to handle, rolling down the 3rd base fence.
After leaving 8 runners on base through 5 innings, La Crosse finally was able to bring some of them home, and cushion the lead a little bit. After a leadoff single by first baseman Randy Labaut, Mason McCoy (Iowa) followed suit with one out. A mishandled thrown in allowed both runners to advance another base. Cullen Large (William & Mary) took the opportunity to bring in two runs on a single to left field.
Nick Raquet (William & Mary) held the Border Cats scoreless through 7 innings, and almost made it through 8. Anthony Brocato (St. John’s) reached on a one out error by Mason McCoy. Brocato came into score on a two out single by Andrew Fregia (Sam Houston State). Raquet was forced to come out of the game per Northwoods League pitching guidelines, with 110 pitches.
Garrett Zech added an insurance run in the 8th on a two out, two on single to left field. Both runs would have scored had Justin Wylie (San Diego State) not been thrown out at home plate. That would be enough to give La Crosse the win, 4-1. The Loggers scored enough for the victory despite surrendering 15 baserunners in the game.
Nick went 7.2 innings, giving up the lone run (unearned) on 7 hits. He walked a batter and struck out 7 more. He earned his 2nd victory (2-3) in the win.
Joey Burris (SE Missouri State) took his 4th loss (1-4), going 5 innings while giving up only a run himself (unearned). He walked 4 and struck out 4.
The win gives La Crosse their first of the 2nd half (1-1), snapping a 3-game losing streak, stretching back to final series of the 1st half, against Mankato. Thunder Bay falls to 1-1. La Crosse enjoys the comfort of home for two more nights as Willmar comes to the Lumberyard for two games. Make sure you are one of the first 1,000 fans through the gates when they open at 6 pm to receive a Logger Dog bobblehead! Game time is 7:05.
