La Crosse, Wisc. – The Loggers lose 6-3 to the Eau Claire Express to fall behind 0-1 in their 3 game series playoff set.
The playoffs kicked off with 2 innings of scoreless baseball from both teams, where the host La Crosse Loggers would break the tie on a Savion Flowers (Sacramento State) RBI single to take the 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning. Eau Claire would respond in the top of the 4th by loading the bases, scoring 2 runs off of a walk and groundout, each recording an RBI.
Up 2-1 Eau Claire would extend their lead in the following inning, starting with a leadoff homerun in the 5th. A few more hits would result in a 4 run inning, putting the score at 6-1 with Eau Claire in the lead. La Crosse would cut into the lead in the 7th, as Logan De Groot (Northwestern) would hit a leadoff homerun, and Mana Lau Kong (Hawaii) would drive in another run off of a single. Both bullpens were shutdown from there, keeping the score at 6-3 for the rest of the game.
Despite the loss, several Loggers had solid performances. Logan De Groot had a homerun and came around to score twice, Kelsen Johnson (Georgia SW State) reached base by way of the walk 3 times, and 5 Lumbermen had multiple hits. Chase Zidlicky (Madison CC) had a great relief appearance, pitching 3.2 innings, not allowing a single run, and striking out 8 in the process.
This series will resume tomorrow night in Eau Claire at 6:35 tomorrow night. With their backs to the wall, the Loggers look to rally behind expected starter Tommy Bridges (Northwestern) to keep the season alive and force a game 3.