The Thunder Bay Border Cats won for the eighth time in nine home games on Thursday night as they downed the Waterloo Bucks 9-5 at Port Arthur Stadium.  The Cats earned a split of the day-night doubleheader after dropping the opener before a School Day crowd of 2,425.  Thunder Bay now stands at 12-13 on the season.

In the nightcap, the Cats broke open a scoreless game with a three-run fourth inning on an RBI groundout by Braxton Templin (Georgetown University), a run scoring single by Dylan Snead (Ottawa University) and an RBI double by Manny Alberto (Western Kentucky University).  Templin added a two-run single in the fifth inning as the third baseman had two hits and three runs batted in on the night.  Snead, Stevie Waters (University of British Columbia), Hayden Crites (Jacksonville State University), and Dante Smith (North Dakota State University) all chipped in with two hits with Smith also driving in a pair of runs.

Makaio Cisneros (Florida Atlantic University) started on the mound for Thunder Bay and pitched four scoreless innings.  The righthander from Whitby, Ont., allowed just one hit and struck out five.  Lucas Mercado (Ouachita Baptist University) picked up his second win in relief, while Ryan Jackson (University of Evansville) got the final four outs to notch his third save.

The Cats and Bucks wrap up their four-game series Friday night at 6:35pm.  Kody Butt (Bellevue University) is the scheduled starter for Thunder Bay.  It’s Porter Airlines “Fly Away Friday’s” as fans will have a chance to win a trip for two to Toronto, including Blue Jays tickets to a 2026 game, and one night hotel accommodations.