LA CROSSE, WIS. – The La Crosse Loggers dropped a tough loss to the Duluth Huskies on Saturday evening in front of 3,063 fans at Copeland Park and Event Center.
The Lumbermen scored first in the bottom of the first inning after Braiden Ward (Washington) led off with a double to right-center and came around to score on an RBI single from Bryce Blaum (Texas A&M). Blaum would score the Loggers’ second run on an errant pickoff attempt from Duluth starter Hunter Bigge.
La Crosse added two more runs in the fourth and sixth frames on RBI singles from Nick Lewis (South Alabama) and Ward to give the Loggers a 4-0 lead after six innings.
Loggers’ starting pitcher Bill Chillari (Duke) was outstanding on the mound, tossing 6.2 innings and striking out five while scattering six Duluth hits. Chillari exited with a 4-0 lead, but a costly error added two unearned runs to Chillari’s line.
The Huskies would cut the deficit to 4-3 after a solo home run from Augie Isaacson in the top of the eight inning, and complete the comeback in the top of the ninth. A wild pitch scored the game tying run, and a two RBI single from Kyle Jacobsen pushed across the go-ahead runs and ultimately give the Huskies a 6-4 victory.
La Crosse was led offensively by Ward and Lewis who each had three-hit performances, and Jarron Silva (UCLA) who added a 2-for-4 night. The Loggers fall to a half-game out of first place for the second half of the season, and will look to regain the top spot in the North on Sunday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 PM between the Loggers and first place Duluth Huskies on Irish Heritage Day at the Lumberyard presented by Irishfest La Crosse.
