LA CROSSE, WI – Thursday night’s game was the first game of ten home games over the next eleven days for the La Crosse Loggers. Fans at Copeland Park were hungry for a win, having not seen one since May 31. The St. Cloud Rox had other plans.
After a scoreless first inning, St. Cloud struck first when four Rox batters scored on four hits. Kyle Jackson singled to center field, Weber Neels walked, and Ike Mezzenga reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners on first and third. Hits by Matt Goetzmann and Ozzie Pratt would score two. A John Nett double would bring Goetzmann and Pratt home as well.
After the second inning, scoring came to a screeching halt until the seventh inning. After a strikeout to begin the inning, Mac Danford (UT-Martin), Seth Cox (Memphis), Jack Collins (Long Beach State), and Mitch Wood (Yavapai) all walked to bring across the first and only run for the Loggers. Unfortunately, a ground out would end the inning with the next at-bat, stranding three Logger baserunners.
The story of the game was undoubtedly the St. Cloud pitching, specifically the performance by Piercen McElyea. The Tarleton State man pitched six no-hit innings while striking out seven and only surrendering three walks. Aside from the run given up in the seventh inning, the Rox relievers were about as flawless as relievers can get. St. Cloud had La Crosse figured out for most of the night.
The Rox will be sticking around for another game against the Loggers on Friday night at 6:35. Come for the game and stay for the first firework extravaganza of the season as well!
