LA CROSSE, Wis. — After a back-and-forth contest, Matt Stinebiser (Duke) ripped an RBI single down the first base line in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the La Crosse Loggers a 8-7 victory over the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters on Thursday night at Copeland Park.

The Loggers (7-9) trailed 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Jacob Blas (Arizona) hit a two-run home run to left field to tie the game. Blas would add two more RBI in the bottom of the 8th inning to give the Loggers a 7-5 lead, but the Rafters (11-5) clawed back to tie it 7-7 in the top of the ninth.

Blas finished 3-for-5 in his 2020 Loggers debut, as did JT Thompson (Texas State). Jason Hodges (John A. Logan) and Blake Klassen (Saddleback CC) each added two hits for La Crosse, while Kobe Kato (Arizona) was 1-2 with a double, three walks and three runs scored.

Cam Wynne (Nebraska) earned the win in relief for the Loggers. Travis Weston (Boise State) started and pitched four solid innings, allowing three hits and two runs. Clayton Nettleton (Kirkwood CC) struck out three and allowed just one hit over two innings of relief.

La Crosse will play host to the Wisconsin Woodchucks (4-11) in the first game of a two-game set, with first pitch set for 7:05 pm Friday night at Copeland Park.