By Lance Jones

Both games of a twi-night double header went the way of the La Crosse Loggers by identical 11-3 scores over the Thunder Bay Border Cats on Monday. In game one, a seven run fourth inning paced the Loggers to an easy 11-3 game. In game two, the Loggers used a five run early inning to push a 1-0 lead to 6-0 on the way to the 11-3 win.

In the opener, the Border Cats could only manage three hits. JJ Rollon (Pima CC-AZ) had a 2-for-4 game in the nine spot in the order. Karsten Vasquez (College of San Mateo-CA) walked three times in the eight spot and Jakob Newton (Florida Tech), picking up the other hit pushed his on base streak to 30 games.

On the mound DJ DePiero (Bradley University-IL) (0-5), making a spot start took the loss working four innings allowing nine hits and seven runs (four earned) with a walk and four strikeouts.

For La Crosse Matthew Stinebiser (Duke) went 3-for-4 with a three run homer late in the game to go with another run batted in earlier in the game. Kyson Donahue (Arizona) scored a couple runs batted in.

The Loggers pitching staff managed 14 strikeouts. Tristan Harvin (Birmingham Southern) pushed his record to 3-3 with the win with six punch outs. Lalo Porras (Lewis-Clark State) threw three innings in relief allowing five walks, but striking out eight.

In Game two the Cats cut the Loggers early 6-0 lead with a three run sixth. However, a three run response in the seventh and two in the eighth pushed the Loggers in with the sweep.

Conor Allard (Nevada-Reno) managed an RBI and three of the seven hits the Cats managed. Newton’s third double of the season kept the on base streak rolling. Ryne Edmondson (Houston Baptist) reached the 30 RBI club. Noah Reed (Lincoln Trail College), making his Border Cat debut picked up his first hit and first RBI in the loss. Vasquez managed two more walks to make five in a day.

Tony Bullard (Arizona) led the way for La Crosse in game two. He was one of four hitters with two hits. Bullard managed three runs batted in. Cody Jefferis (San Diego) was 1-for-4 with two runs batted in a double in the win. Cole Elvis (California) also picked up a double and two RBI’s.

Both Starting Pitchers were making their debuts and took responsibility for the decisions on the mound. For the Border Cats Kyle Wellman (Hendrix College) took the loss working five innings and allowing six runs (five earned) on four walks, seven hits and four strikeouts. Loggers Starter Joe Cliver (Viterbo) worked through five hits and two walks over five innings, allowing all three runs. He managed five strikeouts.

With the losses Thunder Bay drops to 5-18. La Crosse (14-10) is keeping pace with Eau Claire and Duluth who lead the division by only half a game.

Thunder Bay is going to finish this four city road swing in Mankato for the final two meetings between the two teams. Mankato had won four in a row to start the series, but the Border Cats responded with two wins a row.