ROCHESTER, MN – A pair of errors led to four unearned runs in the first two innings of Friday night's Northwoods League contest at Mayo Field in Rochester that eventually led to a 7-6 victory for the host Honkers in front of 864 fans.
The visiting Loggers would take an early 1-0 lead when Ryan Mantle (Creighton) would come around to score after being hit by a pitch in the top of the first inning, but Rochester would answer right back with two runs (one earned) in their half.
A similar inning would unfold in the second when Taylor Sanagorski (Emporia State) would lead off with a double for La Crosse to be followed by an RBI single from Garrett Christman (Butler) to tie the score at two. But that would be short lived as another very costly miscue would lead to three unearned runs in the bottom of the second for Rochester and give them a 5-2 lead after just two innings.
Loggers starter Derik Beauprez (Nova Southeastern) would last 3.1 innings, surrendering five runs, one earned, while walking four and striking out four before turning it over to Andrew Owen (Villanova).
The Lumbermen would start to chip away at the lead in the fifth. After a Grant Judkins (Iowa) walk, Yahir Gurrola (North Florida) would triple to plate Judkins and then come around to score two batters later on a RBI groundout by Christman.
La Crosse would then tie the game at five in the sixth when Connor Perry (Pitt), who tripled to lead off the inning, would score on a sacrifice fly RBI from Sage Bruhl (MATC). But the Honkers would respond with a run in the bottom of the sixth and another in the seventh to take a lead they would not relinquish eventually securing the 7-6 victory.
Offensively the Loggers totaled nine hits on the night, led by Gurrola, Christman and Perry who each collected a pair of safeties. Christman also drove in two runs, as did Bruhl.
The Loggers will now return home to begin a six-game home stand in seven days beginning Saturday night when they host Rochester at 6:05 p.m. Gates open early at 5 for Happy Hour with Howie's featuring live entertainment from national entertainers Bucket Ruckus.