THUNDER BAY – Patrick Engskov’s bat is heating up for the stretch run.
The Border Cats second baseman homered for the second straight night, a two-run, first-inning shot, helping his team snap a three-game losing streak with an 8-5 win over the front-running La Crosse Loggers Monday night at Port Arthur Stadium.
Engskov now has two home runs and 21 RBIs on the season for Thunder Bay, who improved to 6-15 as they hit the Northwoods League all-star break.
It was just the fourth loss of the second half for La Crosse, who lead the Great Plains East with 15 wins, giving them a one-game cushion over Waterloo.
Thunder Bay put the game away, or at least appeared to do so, erupting for six runs in the third off Loggers starter Jalen Worthley, who didn’t record an out in his final inning, giving up eight runs on six hits and four walks.
The Cats loaded the bases with no outs in the third and Blake Warner singled in the first run of the inning to make it 3-1 Thunder Bay. Peter Fusek followed with a bases-loaded walk and Brayde Kuriger doubled in the direction of centre-field to score two more, ending Worthley’s night.
Trey Lewis singled off reliever Jake Porter, an error allowing a second run on the play.
Riely Hunsaker held the Loggers at bay through five-and-a-third, allowing one run on six hits, while striking out three.
La Crosse did its damage in the ninth against reliever Ryan Garvey, scoring four times to close the gape from 8-1 to 8-5 before Canadian Jacob Gajic was brought in to shut the door on the comeback attempt
Hunsaker (1-0) picked up the win, with the loss going to Wortley (3-4).
The Cats and Loggers will resume their two-game series on Wednesday night at Port Arthur Stadium.
Attendance was 952 and the Border Cats are averaging 1,063 fans in 2023.
