St. Cloud, MN – The St. Cloud Rox concluded their home campaign Friday night with a big win over Thunder Bay as they scored 10 runs on 16 hits to defeat the Border Cats 10-1 at Joe Faber Field. The Rox (18-17, 37-33) jumped out to a 4-1 lead before scoring six times in their final two innings at the plate to force a split in the two-game series as nine different Rox players recorded hits and five recorded multiple-hit games.

The pitching from the Rox was equal to their offense Friday night as starter Reese Gregory threw eight innings while allowing one unearned run and five hits while striking out nine as he picked up the victory (7-2), and Northwoods League Pitcher of the Night honors. Kevin Burgee came in to pitch the ninth for the Rox and struck out two to finish the game and give the Rox the victory.

After Gregory allowed his only run in the top of the first, the Rox scored one in the fourth, three in the fifth and piled on five runs in the bottom of the seventh to give them a commanding lead in the late innings as they finished the inning with six hits, including five in a row to put the game away. They added another in the eighth off a solo home run from Robert Youngdahl to bring the game to its final score, 10-1.

Offensively, Clay Ardeeser led the way with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate including four RBIs and two runs scored as he launched his seventh home run of the season in the fourth inning and a triple in the seventh to bring in two runs. Mitchell Kranson also finished with three hits, including a double as Eric Loxtercamp, Morgan Phillips and Boo Vazquez each finished with two hits apiece.

Friday night’s box score can be found at http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=210746.

The Rox will now head to Duluth tonight for their final series of the season, as they will play two games with the Huskies to finish the 2014 push. Tonight’s game will begin at 6:35 p.m. and Sunday’s will take place at 1:05 p.m. at Wade Stadium.

Single game tickets can be purchased 24 hours a day at www.stcloudrox.com, by calling (320) 240-9798 or by visiting the Rox ticket office located at the Municipal Athletic Complex.

For more coverage of the Rox, visit www.sctimes.com.