DULUTH, Minn. – Boom went the Thunder Bay Border Cats bats.
The Northwoods League team broke out in a big way on Friday night, scoring 15 runs on 15 hits and demolished the host Duluth Huskies 15-2 to snap a two-game losing streak.
Every hitter in the starting lineup drove in a least one run, led by Peter Fusek’s four-RBI effort. Daylan Pena, Karson Krowka and Brayden Kuriger each drove in a pair for Thunder Bay, who were already up 5-0 on the Huskies when they erupted for seven in the fourth to quickly put the game out of reach.
D.J. Burke took the loss for the Huskies, giving up the first five runs – two in the second and three in the third, before giving way to Colin Trizuto.
Trizuto didn’t record an out, facing seven batters before getting the hook.
Four reached on a hit, two walked and one was safe on a fielder’s choice.
Krowka broke it open with a two-run single to centre and then Fusek drove in two more – and scored himself on the play thanks to an error by Duluth shortstop Jarred Mettam and another by Trizuto.
The Cats added three more in the ninth.
Evans Hendricks (1-0) picked up the win in a quality start, allowing just two runs – only one of them earned – over six innings of five-hit ball. The Texas native struck out four and walked one.
Thunder Bay and Duluth (16-8) will resume their home-and-home series on Saturday night at Port Arthur Stadium, wrapping it up on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the win, the Border Cats (7-17) are now officially eliminated from second-half contention and will miss the NWL playoffs for an 11th straight season.
