LA CROSSE, Wisc. – Three straight singles to start the third inning paved the way for a three-run frame, all the runs the visiting La Crosse Loggers would need to take down the Thunder Bay Border Cats in the opening game of their double header on Saturday.
Derrick Mitchell, the third hitter of the inning, singled to score Chase Anderson off Border Cats starter Mason Lemons and then, with the bases loaded, Ian Collier plated two more as the Loggers built a 3-0 lead and went on to down Thunder Bay 5-2, in a game scheduled for seven innings.
It was the make-up game for Friday’s contest, postponed by poor weather.
Down 4-0, Thunder Bay cut into the La Crosse lead in the fifth, the damage coming with two outs.
Jackson Cooke doubled to left off Jah Acevedo to score Ty Hamilton, who walked to open the inning.
Sam Stem, who on Thursday authored the first cycle in Border Cats history, singled to score Cooke, but was stranded and Thunder Bay trailed 4-2.
The visitors added a final run in the sixth, with reliever Tanner Vaugh on the mound.
Vaughn took over from Lemons with two outs in the fourth. Lemons allowed four runs on eight hits, walking three and striking out two.
The Border Cats were leading the second game 7-4 when it was called because of the weather in the top of the fourth.
Brayden Kuriger was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and Riley Iffrig had a pair of RBIs when the game was called.
It will be completed on Sunday at Port Arthur Stadium, starting at 1:35 p.m. Their regularly scheduled game has a 3:35 p.m. first pitch.
