LA CROSSE, WI- Fresh off a second-half opener win, La Crosse falls to Green Bay 8-7. The loss ended a 3-game win streak for the Loggers. Matt Naylor made his first start of the season.
For the second game in a row, Green Bay jumped out to an early lead. The Bullfrogs started off with a single by Logan Taylor (Louisville). Robb Paller (Columbia) hit him in on a double. A hit-by-pitch, another double, and a single score four runs as Green Bay raced out to a 4-0 lead in the first.
La Crosse answered with a Mason McCoy (Iowa) leadoff single. Mason stole 2nd and moved to 3rd on a Jordan Zimmerman (Michigan State) groundout. Quickly, McCoy scored on a wild pitch to get the Loggers on the board.
Green Bay was not slowing now just yet. Robb Paller singled in a run, then a walk and a double scored two more before Jack Ralston (UCLA) came in relief. At the end of just two, Green Bay led 7-1.
La Crosse got back at it in the 5th when Chris Baker (Washington) reached on a fielding error by the Green Bay shortstop. Baker stole second base before Riley Adams (San Diego) hit an infield single. Both runners moved up on a passed ball. Baker scored on a Zander Clarke (UCLA) groundout. Adams reached home on a wild pitch the next batter.
Green Bay added an insurance run in the 8th on a communication error between Mason McCoy at second and Alex Merritt (North Florida) in right. That run proved to be the winning run because the Loggers were not done yet. Ryan Kirby pinch-hit and reached on an error. Zimmerman walked to make it two-on-one-out. Brock Lundquist (Long Beach State) hit a blast to right-center to bring in both runners. Merritt singled and Lundquist scored to bring La Crosse within two runs.
Liam Carter (Missouri) pitched a scoreless 9th and La Crosse made one final run at the money. Ryan Kirby doubled to right with two outs and Mason McCoy drove him in to cut the Bullfrog lead to one. But it was not enough to win the game as La Crosse fell 8-7.
The story of the game was Jack Ralston’s great game out of the bullpen. In 5.2 innings, Jack struck out 5 and gave up one unearned run. In his last twelve innings pitched, Ralston has a .75 ERA with 13 strikeouts.
The Loggers stay at home for two more as first-half winner Kenosha comes to La Crosse tomorrow. It is “Tribute To The Military Night” and all with a military ID get in free. Game time is once again 7:05.