EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. – Jakbob Newton singled in the winning run in the top of the ninth inning on Sunday, helping the Thunder Bay Border Cats to snap a five-game losing streak.
Newton, an Oakville, Ont. native, was 4-for-5 on the night and scored twice for the Cats, who put up just their second second-half win of the season in downing the host Eau Claire Express 5-4 on the road.
Jordan Jackson picked up the win in relief of starter Mark Anderson, the lefty going six innings while allowing three runs on six hits and a pair of walks, striking out two.
Eau Claire took a 1-0 lead into the fourth, when the Cats put up a pair to take a 2-1 lead, Nate Soriano homering with Newton aboard, his first of the season.
Soriano, who has struggled at the plate, had three hits on the afternoon.
The Express tied it up in the fifth off Anderson and took a 3-2 lead when leadoff hitter Troy Beilsmith belted the first pitch he saw from Anderson over the fence.
The Cats tied things up in the seventh on a Jake Engel double that scored Karsten Vasquez, only to give back the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Matt Bottcher doubled off Jackson to score Zach Gillies.
Thunder Bay tied it up once again in the eighth, Soriano singing off Jack Brown, to plate Newton, and then won it in the ninth.
Brown, who gave up eight hits and three runs in three innings of relief, took the loss. Jackson evened his record at 1-1 with the win.
Ryan Windham hit the first batter he faced, but settled down to retire three straight to seal the victory, earning Thunder Bay (2-10) just its second win of the second half.
The Express (8-4) slipped back into a first-place tie in the Great Plains East with the Duluth Huskies, who doubled up La Crosse 6-3 on Sunday to capture their fifth straight triumph.
The Cats (2-10) resume play in Duluth on Thursday following the Northwoods League all-star break.
