La Crosse, WI – The Rox made history by winning their 10^th straight game, 7-5, over the La Crosse Loggers (14-10) on Friday night. This matches the longest winning by the Rox franchise since the becoming the “Rox” in 2012. St. Cloud (17-6) won their last 8 games to end the regular season last year and then two more to start the postseason (10 total in a row). RHP Matt Shannon (Angelo State) was magnificent as the starter with 7 innings of work while only yielding one run. Shannon retired 15 batters in a row at one point during his outing. The right-hander finished with 103 pitches and 7 strikeouts. 

La Crosse made the contest interesting in the bottom of the 9^th inning. Mason McCoy led off with a solo home run off Rox reliever Dan Metzdorf (Boston College). St. Cloud committed two errors in the inning and this forced a pitching change with the club still on top 7-4. Robbie Palkert (Nebraska) came on and slammed the door shut as he recorded all three outs to earn the save. The Loggers ultimately tallied 4 runs in the inning, but came up short. It was clutch for the Rox to score 2 insurance runs in the top of the 9^th because of what transpired in the bottom of the inning.

Brendan Illies (UNC) cracked the scoreboard first for the Rox in the second inning. He delivered with an RBI single into left field to score Mark Skonieczny (Illinois). La Crosse tied the game, 1-1, after the bottom of the second inning.

The Rox manufactured runs in the 3^rd and 5^th innings with situational hitting. Michael Strem (Boston College) dropped down a nice sacrifice bunt to move Drew Freedman and TJ Friedl (Nevada) over. With runners at second and third, Skonieczny cashed in with an RBI ground out to score Friedl. Rox took a 2-1 lead after 3 innings. Then, in the 5^th inning, Freedman and Strem produced singles to lead off the frame. Skonieczny placed down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. Denis Karas (California) connected on a single up the middle and that scored two runs. Rox took a 5-1 advantage after 5 innings.

The Rox continue their road trip as they travel to take on the Eau Claire Express in Eau Claire, WI. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. and the Rox Solid Pregame Warmup starts at 6:05 p.m on 1390 AM The Fan. RHP Jake Stevenson (1-1, 2.13) starts for St. Cloud. RHP Caleb Boushley (2-0, 3.00) starts for the Express.

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.

The St. Cloud Times Player of the Game is Matt Shannon. Shannon tossed 7 innings, allowed only 1 run, and surrendered just 3 hits in the victory.

BOX SCORE –

http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=316826

The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.stcloudrox.com