Date: 5/30/2018
Contact: Colton Andresen, Media Relations Coordinator
info@lacrosseloggers.com
Loggers Improve to 2-0 in Walk-Off Fashion!
Strong pitching, Holladay’s big night lead to 3-2 extra inning victory
La Crosse, Wis. – The La Crosse Loggers opened up their 2018 home season on Wednesday night with a 3-2 victory over the Waterloo Bucks in 10 innings. A walk-off extra innings victory on Opening Night is surely a sign of an exciting summer to come at Copeland Park!
The scoring began in the top of the 4th inning as the Bucks jumped out to a 2-0 lead after some timely hitting and a couple of defensive miscues by the Loggers infield. However, the Lumbermen quickly answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning on a two-out, two-run home run to left field by Bryce Blaum (2B, Texas A&M) that scored centerfielder Nick Raquet (William & Mary). Raquet put the Loggers into the hit column for the first time on a broken bat single just one batter prior to Blaum’s moonshot.
Strong relief pitching from both teams kept the score tied at two throughout the middle innings. Scoring would eventually come, but not before a 40 minute rain delay with two outs in the top of 9th at Copeland Park. Fortunately, the game resumed and the Loggers were able to reward the Copeland faithful with a fantastic finish. After a clean top of the 10th inning pitched by position player, and apparent jack-of-all-trades Shane McGuire (C/1B, San Diego), Loggers’ third baseman Jordan Holladay (South Carolina) stepped to the plate with one out in the bottom of the inning. The freshman slugger blasted a belt-high fastball over the left-center field wall to give the Lumbermen the victory in walk-off fashion. Holladay was greeted by his teammates at home plate after a 3-for-4 night where he amassed half of the Loggers six total hits.
Chas Sagedahl (Southeastern) started on the mound for the Loggers in their home opener, going 4.0 innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits, while striking out six. Right hander Derek Lieurance (Iowa) was stellar in relief, tossing 3.0 shutout innings and allowing only one baserunner. Cam Pferrer followed suit with 2.0 shutout innings of his own before McGuire took over in the 10th, earning his first victory of the season.
The Loggers will play at home again tomorrow night as they host the Eau Claire Express at 7:05 PM CT at Copeland Park and Event Center.
