WILLMAR, MN – Another dramatic comeback by the La Crosse Loggers in the late innings was not enough on Wednesday night as La Crosse fell to the host Willmar Stingers by a final of 8-7 in front of 1,749 fans at Bill Taunton Stadium in Willmar, Minn.
Willmar's Danny Rodriguez was the story early on in this one as he belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Stingers an early 2-0 lead. Willmar would tack on another run in the fourth off of Loggers starter Taylor Turner (Madonna) before La Crosse would answer with two of their own in the fifth to cut the deficit to 3-2 before Rodriguez would strike again in the bottom of the seventh, this time for a grand slam to put the Stingers comfortably up 7-2.
As customary this season, La Crosse would find a way to battle back though as they pushed across four runs in the eighth thanks to singles from Mitchell Morimoto (Arizona), Cam Cannon (Arizona), Jorge Guttierrez (Texas A & M) and Ryan Mantle (Creighton).
The Lumbermen would then tie the score at seven apiece in the ninth off of Willmar closer Alex Reyes thanks to two walks, a hit-by-pitch and a single off the bat of Morimoto. But La Crosse would return the favor in the bottom of the ninth when reliever Hunter Davis (Duke) walked the lead-off hitter who eventually came around to score the winning run on a walk-off RBI single from Willmar's Nolan Bumstead.
Morimoto led the Loggers eight-hit attack on the night as we he went 3-5 with two runs scored and two RBI's. Guttierrez had a pair of hits and Nick Kahle (Washington) drove in two.
La Crosse will now head to Mankato, Minn. for the first time this season on Thursday to open a two-game set with the Moondogs. Ryan Anderson (Nevada) will toe the rubber with the first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. Air time on the Logger Nation Station, the Eagle 102.7 FM, is set for 6:30 p.m.
