THUNDER BAY, Ontario — The La Crosse Loggers scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning to take game one of a four-game set against the Thunder Bay Border Cats by a final score of 12-5. La Crosse moves to 8-7 on the year with its first three-game winning streak of the season.
Levi Usher (Kirkwood CC/Louisville) led off the inning with a triple, one of his four hits on the day. Usher went on to earn Northwoods League Player of the Night honors after finishing 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Cody Jefferis (San Diego) drove in Usher one batter later, and Brett Hawkins (Young Harris) followed shortly after with a two-run single to give the Loggers a lead that they wouldn’t surrender. Hawkins and Jefferis each finished with three hits, as the La Crosse offense tallied 15 hits on the day.
Marius Balandis (St. Louis) earned the win in relief of Matt Kennedy (St. Joseph’s), throwing four innings while striking out five and allowing just three hits.
The Loggers return to action with a day-night doubleheader in Thunder Bay on Wednesday, with Game 1 beginning at 10:05 am Central.
