THUNDER BAY – A five-run third inning proved to be the downfall of the Thunder Bay Border Cats in a crucial battle for top spot in the Great Plains East.
After getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the second and only giving up one run, then surrendering another in the third, the La Crosse Loggers got to work in their half of the third, loading the bases three batters in.
Zach Waldas singled home two runs off Border Cats starter Cole Poirrier, then two batters later, the sacks full once again and Nick Veselinovic on in relief, Luke Anderson came through in the clutch, blasting a bases-clearing double that gave the Loggers a 5-1 lead they’d never relinquish.
The Cats did make it close.
Zane Skansi doubled to score Ty Hamilton from third and Alex Urlaub crossed the plate on a single to left, but Skansi was gunned down at the plate trying to score from second and Thunder Bay was still down a run, trailing 5-4.
They’d add an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth and went on to win 6-4.
Thunder Bay did get runners in the fifth and eighth innings, but couldn’t get the clutch hit they needed to make things interesting.
Brendan Moody got the start for LaCrosse, allowing four runs on six hits while walking seven and striking out three. Reece Beuter came on in relief to earn the win, keeping the Border Cats off the scoreboard over four innings.
Poirrier took the loss, chased after two innings, responsible for five runs on two hits, four walks and a hit batsman.
Trevor Baugh threw four innings of one-hit relief to close out the contest.
The loss could prove costly to Thunder Bay’s first-half division hopes.
They dropped to 13-12 and are now 2.5 games back off the Loggers (15-9), with nine games to go in the opening half. Duluth and Waterloo, both at 14-11, are a game ahead of the Border Cats, who will take on La Crosse again on Monday night. Thunder Bay is just 3-10 after a 10-2 start.
Their next home game is Saturday against Rochester.
