St. Cloud, Minn. – On the first Coborn’s Kids’ Day of the summer, 1,949 people packed into Joe Faber field to watch as the St. Cloud Rox (2-4) won their second straight game against the Thunder Bay Border Cats (0-6) by a final score of 7-5.

It was the Ricky Ramirez (McNeese State) show at the Rockpile, with the junior impressing at the plate and on the mound. Ramirez recorded the first four-hit game of the season for Rox, and also came on to pitch at the end of the game and earning the save. He launched a two-run home run in the second, his third of the season, putting him at second on the league leaderboard for home runs. He would cross the plate three times himself as well.

The leadoff hitter for the Rox, TJ Friedl (Nevada, Reno), also impressed, recording three hits in five plate appearances and scoring two runs. Friedl has recorded five hits in ten at bats for the Rox this year, and terrorized the Border Cats with his speed on the basepaths.

The Rox once again had their bats working early, pushing across three runs in the first inning. Ben Peterson (North Dakota State), Marcus Carson (Kentucky), and Denis Karas (Cal, Berkeley) hit back-to-back-to-back RBI singles to break open the game early. Ramirez hit his home run in the second, giving the Rox a quick 5-0 lead.

The Border Cats clawed their way back into the game, tying it at five in the seventh inning. However a Karas double in the bottom of the inning would score Ramirez and Mamarella allowing the Rox to regain a two-run lead, a lead that they would not relinquish.

Starting pitcher Shelby Lackey (University of the Pacific) had a solid outing, pitching six innings and striking out seven batters. Austin Briggs (McNeese State) followed with two innings of one-hit ball, earning him the win. Ramirez came on in the ninth and struck out two batters, not allowing a hit to finish of the Border Cats once and for all.

The 14 hits from the Rox are the most that they have had in a game this year, topping their previous best of eight. Their seven runs also was a new best for the team this season. The 13 runs that they scored in the series against Thunder Bay tied their total runs from their first four games of the season.

The Rox will now go back on the road for four games, playing two in Duluth and two in Eau Claire. The next Rox home game will be on Friday, June 10^th with the first pitched scheduled for 7:05 p.m. That game is presented by Voigt’s Bus and the 1^st 250 kids 14 and under will receive a Rox Bus Bank. The game will also feature Friday Night Fireworks after the game.

Tonight’s game one St. Cloud Times Player of the Game was Ricky Ramirez. Ramirez had four hits in five at bats, including a home run. He had two RBI and scored three runs in the win. He also came on to pitch in the ninth, earning the save for the Rox. For more coverage of the Rox during the 2016 season visit www.sctimes.com.

For more stats and information about the game, here is the boxscore.

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.

About the Minnesota College Savings Plan

It’s opening week in Minnesota in the Northwoods League presented by Minnesota College Savings Plan.

The Minnesota College Savings Plan, is Minnesota’s official 529 college savings plan. It takes just $25 to start, making it easier for families to save for higher education expenses. Funds saved can be used at colleges, technical schools and grad schools nationwide to cover the cost of tuition, as well as books, supplies and other qualified expenses. Additionally, SavingforCollege.com recently ranked the Minnesota College Savings Plan as one of the nation’s top performing direct sold 529 plans. Find out more at www.mnsaves.org

The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23^nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwoods League is the largest summer collegiate baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (KC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.stcloudrox.com.         

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