WAUSA, Wisc. – The Thunder Bay Border Cats are back in first place.
The Cats scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning on Friday night to break open a 5-5 contest and went on to defeat the host Wasau Woodchcuks 7-5.
Thunder Bay is now locked in a three-way tie for top spot in the Northwoods League’s Great Plains East Division with the Duluth Huskies and the Eau Claire Express at 15-12, after Eau Claire edged Duluth 3-2 at home on Friday.
Twice in the contest the Border Cats jumped in front of the Woodchucks, only to have their opponent battle back and tie things up.
Turns out, the third time’s the charm.
The Border Cats took the lead for good in the ninth when Peter Fusek delivered a two-run single with two outs, with Carsen Plumadore throwing in relief for the Huskies.
The his score Garrett Sloan and Terrence Moody, who singled and walked to start the threat.
Mason Lemons got the start for Thunder Bay and tossed six innings, allowing four runs – three of them earned – on seven hits and four walks.
The Woodchucks opened the scoring in the bottom of the first.
Val Cerna Jr. reached on an error and he’d come around to score on a Max Galvin fielder’s choice.
It took the Cats hitters a few innings to get going against Wausau starter Jonathan Amonica, who sat Thunder Bay down in order in the first two innings.
With one out in the third, Nathanael Frederking and Maddox McDonald rattled off back-to-back singles and Sam Stem stepped up to the dish and launched a two-strike double to right that plated both runners – who each advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch during the at bat.
Wausa’s Colin Burggermann tied the game in the bottom of the third, singling in Galvin from third.
Thunder Bay retook the lead in the sixth, Amonica loading the bases before recording an out. Fusek hit into a fielder’s choice that brought Jackson Cooke into score, and with two outs and the bases loaded all over again, McDonald was hit by a pitch, allowing Trey Fikes to cross the plate.
Thunder Bay added another run in the seventh on a Garett Sloan solo shot to go up 5-2, but the Woodchucks (18-9), who entered the game tied for first place in the Great Lakes West Division, pounced on Lemons in the bottom of the inning, scoring three times to tie the game 5-5, chasing the Thunder Bay pitcher in the process.
A single and a walk chased Lemons, who gave way to reliever Kyle Burns. He promptly gave up a single to Galvin to load the bases. Max Soliz Jr. his a sacrifice fly that scored Cerna and an error by Fikes allowed another run to score, cutting Thunder Bay’s lead to 5-4.
Bruggemann then hit an RBI grounder to first that tied things up, Galvin crossing the plate for the second time on the night. Fusek came on and pitched a scoreless ninth to shut down the Woodchucks and earn the save.
Thunder Bay travels to Eau Claire on Saturday. They’re back home on Monday night to face the Express for the third time in three nights. Game time is 6:35 p.m.
