THUNDER BAY — A three-run sixth inning was enough to give the La Crosse Loggers the lead for good on Wednesday night as they continue their push for the second-half title in the Great Plains East Division.
Reliever Ryan Vondracek, who came on in relief of Thunder Bay starter Will Droll, walked the first two batters of the sixth before giving way to Matt Juza, who arrived on the mound with one out and runners on first and second.
A Jackson Cobb single loaded the bases, and then, after Juza struck out Gable Mitchell for the second out of the inning, the bottom dropped out.
Mic Paul walked to score one and Shaun Montoya singled home two more as the Loggers took a 4-1 lead. The inning ended when Cobb was thrown out at the plate by Ryder Hernandez, who took the perfect relay throw from left-fielder Brayden Kuriger.
Thunder Bay got one back in the bottom of the sixth when Patrick Engskov homered for the third straight game, part of a 3-for-5, 2 RBI performance for the Border Cats centre-fielder.
The Cats loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth and Engskov came through again, drawing a walk that scored Kuriger, but Cole Ketzner flew out to left to end the threat and the ballgame.
Droll went 4.2 innings on the mound for Thunder Bay, allowing one run on three hits and three walks, striking out three.
Jake Gebb was dominant starting for La Crosse (16-4), giving up just two runs, one of them earned, on four hits and three walks. He struck out five and picked up the win.
The loss went to Vondracek.
The Border Cats (6-16) are at Duluth (15-7) on Thursday night.
