WAUSAU, WI – The La Crosse Loggers received seven strong innings from starter Nolan Gromacki (Missouri) en route to a 3-1 victory in front of 1,805 fans at Athletic Park in Wausau on Friday night.
La Crosse jumped on the board first in this meeting, the fifth between the two teams already this season, when Brock Lundquist (Long Beach State) doubled to lead off the frame. Lundquist would come home to score three batters later when Jacob Boston (Mesa CC) came up with a two-out RBI single.
Gromacki settled in after that, allowing only one unearned run in the fourth. The freshman right-hander went seven strong innings, limiting the Chucks to just three hits, while walking three and striking out six to earn his first victory of the year.
The score remained tied until the top of the seventh when Mason McCoy (Iowa) doubled with two outs and then Jordan Zimmerman (Michigan State) walked to set the stage for Grant Fennell (Nevada), who promptly doubled in both McCoy and Zimmerman to give the Loggers a 3-1 lead.
Matt Naylor (North Florida) then came on in relief of Gromacki to pitch a scoreless eighth, striking out a pair, before turning it over to Ty Provencher (Long Beach State) who tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up his second save of the season.
With the win the Loggers improved to 5-6 on the year. The same two teams will meet again on Saturday night in Athletic Park. Air time on the Loggers Radio Network is set for 6:30 p.m. with the first pitch being tossed at 7:05 p.m.