\n\tEAU CLAIRE, WI – The La Crosse Loggers scored four runs in the ninth inning at Carson Park on Thursday night for an improbable come-from-behind 9-8 victory over the host Eau Claire Express.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Lumbermen jumped out in front first in this see-saw battle when they plated two runs in the third and then added another two runs in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead for starter Taylor Turner (Madonna), who tossed a solid five innings, surrendering only one run in the fifth before departing with a 5-1 lead.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThat lead was short-lived however, as Eau Claire would plate six runs in the sixth off of relievers Andrew Owen (Villanova) and Joe Rosenstein (Washington State) to take a 7-4 lead.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe two teams would trade blows in the eighth, with each scoring a single run to make the score 8-5 heading to the top of the ninth and set the stage for the drama that would ensure.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tAfter Luke Rasmussen (Long Beach State) and Kennie Taylor (Duke) would each reach base via a hit-by-pitch, Logger third baseman Ryan Mantle (Creighton) would send a 2-0 offering from Express closer Victor Chavez over the fence for a three-run homer to knot the score at eight. Just one batter later, Loggers first baseman David Villar (South Florida) would put La Crosse ahead with a solo shot to make the score 9-8 heading to the bottom of the ninth.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Loggers called on right-hander Peter Hamot (Lewis) in the ninth and after retiring the first two batters, he issued a two-out walk and then surrendered a single to centerfield that put runners on the corners before getting a groundout to end the game and secure the wild 9-8 victory for the Loggers.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tNick Kahle (Washington) led the Loggers offensively with a three-hit night and reached base six times. Villar and Cam Cannon (Arizona) also collected two hits apiece and Mantle drove in a team-high five runs en route to the victory.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Loggers will now return home to embark on a five-game homestand beginning on Friday night when they welcome the Duluth Huskies to town for a 7:05 p.m. contest. Gates open at 6 for Happy Hour in the Howie's Home Run Hangout and the world-famous ZooperStars will be on hand to entertain, followed by a post-game fireworks extravaganza, presented by Toro.\n<\/p>\n