DULUTH – The Thunder Bay Border Cats are back in the win column.
After being doubled up 6-3 in the opening game of their doubleheader on Wednesday against the host Duluth Huskies, the Cats responded with a 6-2 win in the nightcap.
No. 8 hitter Calel Watkins, who had just one hit in his first 19 at bats since joining the team on July 1, doubled, tripled and drove in three runs, two of them coming in the fifth off of Duluth pitcher Mathew Bergan.
Bergan had retired the first two hitters he faced coming on in relief to start the inning. But a Jacob Miller double kept the inning alive and an error by the Huskies shortstop allowed the first of three Thunder Bay runners to cross the plate in the fifth.
Manny Alberto Ayden Hadley also had RBIs for Thunder Bay.
Mason Kosowick got the start for the Border Cats and allowed two runs on three hits and a walk over five innings of work.
Ethan Froud took over in relief and went four innings, not allowing a run while giving up just two hits and a walk.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Border Cats (3-7), who travel to La Crosse on Thursday.
Kolby Heskett started for Duluth, allowing two runs over four innings.
In the opener, Ethan Surowiec had three hits in five trips to the plate, driving in a pair, to lead the Huskies to a 6-3 triumph.
Miller went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for the Border Cats.
Tyler Talbert took the loss for Thunder Bay, chased two outs into the second after being torched for five runs on six hits and two walks. His record evened out a 3-3. Danny Hesse went five innings for Duluth, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks. He struck out five. Brode Gann and Lou Rivera didn’t allow a run over four innings of relief.
