BISMARK, ND – The La Crosse Loggers hit the road for the first time in 2017 on Monday night but were not welcomed guests as the fell to the Bismark Larks 9-3 in the first ever meeting between the two teams.
It was a see-saw battle in the early innings as each team delivered blows. With the Larks leading 2-1 entering the fourth inning, Loggers catcher Taylor Sanagorski (Emporia State) tied the score with a solo home run, his first on the young season. But the score would not remain tied for long as defensive miscues would prove to be costly to the Loggers in the bottom half of the fourth as the hosts would plate three unearned runs to take a lead that they would not relinquish.
Loggers starter Taylor Turner (Madonna) would be the hard-luck loser after surrendering six runs, only three earned, over 4.2 innings pitched. Jason Seever (Arizona) would come on in relief of Turner and toss the final 3.1 innings, surrendering three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out two.
Sanagorski and Joe LaCivita (Illinois-Springfield) would lead the way for the Lumbermen at the plate with each collecting a pair of safeties. Mike Ferri (UW-Milwaukee) also drove in a run.
The same two teams will meet again on Tuesday night in Bismark for the series finale. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. with the pre-game show airing on the Logger Nation Station, Eagle 102.7 FM, at 6:30 p.m.