Rox Look to Bounce Back After Competitive Loss in Extras

The St. Cloud Rox drop a tough one in extra innings against the Bismarck Larks with a final score of 9-8 through ten innings. They move on to 2-1 in 2023 after dropping game 1 against the Larks in 2023. 

Kolby Gartner (St. Thomas) had the start for the Rox Wednesday night. He finished with 4.0 solid innings pitched, giving up a run in the 1st and 4th innings en route to a 2-run outing in

Bismarck. 

The bats followed his lead early. Ben Vujovich (St. Thomas) started the scoring with a lead-off single, coming around to score on a walk from Matt Goetzmann (Omaha) and a wild pitch soon after. Vujovich finished with 2 runs, off his 1-6 day at the plate. 

Goetzmann was next, hitting his third homerun in his last five at-bats in the second inning. He finished 2-4 with 3 RBI on the evening, poking a single two innings later. 

Brady Posch (Omaha) came in to pitch in the 5th frame, allowing three runs in his third of an inning pitch. Brandon Willoughby (Ave Maria University) followed, finishing with 1.0 IP, walking three batters in the process. 

Chris Brown (Howard College) showed command in his 1.2 IP that followed for the Rox, striking out a hitter and only allowing one run to cross. 

Brandon Jaenke (Viterbo) followed with a pair of innings, allowing one run but striking out five Bismarck larks hitters in the process. He collected the most strikeouts of any pitcher today. 

Rox hitters topped off their scoring with RBI knocks from Ethan Navratil (St. Cloud State University) in the 7th inning, and plating two more in the 8th and 9th innings before Jacob Burcham (Tarleton State) allowed the winning run to cross in the bottom of the 10th. 

Burcham finished with 0.2 IP, but only one hit to his credit. 

The Rox look to bounce back tomorrow against the Larks for a 6:35 pm first pitch, as they stand at second in the Western Division of the Northwoods League!

For the box score, click here.

For the Rox roster, click here.

For the standings, click here.