LA CROSSE, WIS – The La Crosse Loggers won both games of a modified doubleheader with the Waterloo Bucks on Sunday evening, winning 14-2 in a resumed game that was postponed due to rain on June 9, and sweeping game two with a 10-1 victory in seven innings.
Game one was highlighted by the Logger offense as La Crosse scored 14 runs on 14 hits, including a seven run seventh inning to put the game away. The scoring began with an RBI single by Mike Rothenberg (Duke) scoring Korey Lee (Cal) who led off the resumed game with two outs in the bottom of the first frame.
The Bucks would take a brief lead in the top of the third inning with a two-RBI single from Carmen Sclafani, but that’s all they would get as Ted Stuka (UC-San Diego) and Stephen Knapp (Bellevue) would combine to shut Waterloo out for the remainder of the game. Stuka, who statistically made a relief appearance in the resumed contest, went 4.0 innings allowing two runs and striking out four. Knapp would slam the door for the final 4.0 shutout innings, scattering three hits and striking out four to record his third save of the season.
The Lumbermen answered quickly with three runs in the bottom of the third inning to regain the lead, thanks in part to yet another two-run home run from Harrison Freed (Butler) that left his bat at 105 mph exit velocity. With his third home run in two days, Freed jumped into the league lead with his 10th long ball of the season.
With the score 6-2, the Loggers put up seven runs on six hits in the seventh inning, including two doubles from Braiden Ward (Washington) in the frame. Shane McGuire (San Diego) tallied on a run in the eighth with a solo home run to right field, his fourth of the season. Ward was 2-for-5 with three RBI in game one, while McGuire ended 3-for-4 with the home run, two doubles, two walks, three RBI, and four runs scored. McGuire reached 8-of-11 times during the doubleheader, raising his batting average to .354 (4th in NWL) and RBI total to 40 (2nd in NWL).
Loggers’ starting pitcher Lalo Porras (Lewis-Clark) stole the show in game two Sunday evening, earning his fourth victory of the season after going 6.0 strong innings, allowing one unearned run on just two hits while striking out 10.
The Lumbermen would take the lead 2-1 in the third frame on an RBI single from Harrison Freed, marking his 20th consecutive game with a hit this season and setting a new Loggers’ franchise record. After extending their lead to 3-1, the Loggers would again erupt for a seven spot in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bryce Blaum (Texas A&M) ripped an RBI double to the opposite field scoring Braiden Ward from first to start the big inning. Nick Lewis (South Alabama) followed a few batters later with a two-RBI single of his own to push the lead to 8-1. Korey Lee would come on the close the game, capping a two game sweep in front of 2,871 fans at Copeland Park. Lewis finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Blaum and Ward each added a pair of hits in the finale.
La Crosse improves to a first place 5-1 in the second half of the season, and will travel to Waterloo for one game tomorrow before a two game set against the Duluth Huskies.
