THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Border Cats are hotter than tamales.
The Northwoods League team rode a three-run first to a 4-3 win over the visiting Duluth Huskies on Sunday afternoon at Port Arthur Stadium, earning them a third straight win, all over their south-of-the-border rival.
Cole Ketzner and Carter Allen had RBI singles in the first, giving Thunder Bay starter Cole Poirrier an early 3-0 lead.
Poirrier pitched into the seventh, departing after giving up three runs on three hits, including a leadoff homer to Duluth’s Calyn Halvorson to start the second inning, cutting the Border Cats advantage to 3-1.
The Border Cats got the run back in the third, an Allen sacrifice fly plating Daylan Pena.
Allen, who has 15 RBI on the season, raised hit batting average to .264 with his 1-for-3 effort.
Devin Dodson, the Duluth starter, gave up all four runs on six hits and a trio of walks, and took the loss, evening his record at 2-2. Poirrier picked up his second win of the season, improving to 2-1.
Sawyer Barron and Michael Pirrello combined to throw 2.1 innings of scoreless release to finish off the Huskies, Pirrello earning his first save of the summer.
The Border Cats (9-17) don’t play again until Thursday, when they host the Minnesota Mud Puppies at Port Arthur Stadium.
