EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. -- The Thunder Border Cats will make their first-half playoff push tied for top spot in the Great Plains East.
The Cats on Tuesday fell back into a virtual deadlock with the Eau Claire Express, who took advantage of playing at home and blanked Thunder Bay 7-0.
The Cats, at 15-11, are .006 percentage points ahead of the Express, who travel to Thunder Bay for a pair, starting on Wednesday night.
Rochester (15-13) and Duluth (14-12) are a game back of first place
The first half ends on Monday, and because of the Northwoods League's uneven schedule, will be decided by winning percentage.
Tuesday just wasn't Thunder Bay's night.
A four-run sixth inning did in the Border Cats, blowing open a 3-0 contest at the time. Thunder Bay managed just four hits on the night.
Starter Robert Spencer was roughed up for three runs and departed with two outs in the second.
Down three in the sixth, reliever Kyle Gearding gave up hit, hit a batter and walked one, allowing Camden Tods to score on a passed ball before giving way to Barron Sawyer.
Sawyer issued a bases-loaded walk to Tanner Sagouspe and two more came in before the inning ended, rounding out the scoring.
Only two Thunder Bay batters reached second base on the night, stymied by Eau Claire starter Cory Roman, who gave up one hit and two walks over five innings to earn the win
The Cats went down in order in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth.
Game time on Wednesday at Port Arthur Stadium is 6:35 p.m. Thunder Bay's Jack Pineau is scheduled to get the start for the Border Cats.
