Border Cats earn walk-off win in return home

Pinch hitter Nick Oberg proved to be the right choice coming off the Thunder Bay Border Cats bench on Tuesday night.

Oberg singled home the winning run, handing the Cats a wild 9-8 win over the visiting Alexandria Blue Anchors, snapping a four-game losing streak in the process.

The Cats, who led 8-2 through four innings, surrendered six straight to the Blue Anchors, including four in the eighth to erase their six-run advantage.

Adam Collins, who left the game for Oberg in the ninth, had the hot bat for the Cats, collecting three hits in four at bats, scoring once and driving in a pair. Robb Paller also had two RBI for Thunder Bay, which improved to 4-11 in front of 521 Port Arthur Stadium faithful.

Alexandria’s Sean Stutzman, who pitched 3.2 innings of relief, was tagged with the loss. The win went to Lucas Scocchia (2-0).

Zack Speer allowed three runs on five hits over a six-inning start for the Cats, who broke a Northwoods League North Division tie for last place with the win over cellar-dweller Alexandria. 

The two teams will wrap up their two-game set on Wednesday.