Border Cats pitcher Tyler Lequire delivers a pitch on Opening Night.

The Border Cats lost a slugest 9-7 to the St. Cloud Rox in their 2014 Northwoods League season opener before 907 fans Tuesday night at Tbaytel Park.  The Rox erupted for five runs in the top of the 5th inning to go uop 7-0, before the Cats had a huge rally in the bottom of the inning, sending 12 men to the plate and tying the game by scoring seven times.  St. Cloud pushed across two runs in the top of the 7th to close out the scoring.  Tyler Rolland (Southern Illinois University) led the Cats at the plate, going 2-4 with two doubles, a run scored and one run batted in.  Brandon Arnold (St. Cloud State), Gabriel Hernandez (Boston College) and Nick Studer (Doane College) all had two hits for Thunder Bay.  The Cats stranded 10 runners in the loss.  Tyler Lequire (Pfeiffer University) started for the Cats and pitched four innings, allowing seven hits and seven runs (five earned).  The righthander walked four and struck out three.  Michael Daley (Kean University) took the loss in relief.  The Cats and Rox have an early start today to conclude their two-game series.  First pitch is this morning at 11:05am as the Cats host students from both Thunder Bay schools boards.  Toronto native Yuji Suzuki will get the start on the mound for Thunder Bay.  The game is open to all fans.