LA CROSSE, Wisc. – The road woes continue for the Thunder Bay Border Cats.
The Northwoods League team on Thursday gave up two runs in the first and three more in the second and were toppled 10-3 by the host La Crosse Loggers, dropping their third straight game away from the friendly confines of Port Arthur Stadium.
Cody Jefferis and Ryan Holgate drove in a pair of runs apiece for the Loggers, who claimed a tie for top spot in the Great Plains East Division with the victory at 18-15.
J.T. Schwartz had three hits in four trips to the plate, La Crosse making the most of the eight hits they put up against Thunder Bay starter D.J. DePiero and reliever Jordan Jackson, who each pitched four innings apiece.
Jakob Newton homered for the second straight night for Thunder Bay, a back-to-back solo shot that followed Nate Soriano’s two-run blast off La Crosse starter Nick Eaton, who left after five, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks.
Eaton earned the win, while DePiero fell to 0-6 with the loss, surrendering five runs on five hits and four walks while striking out six.
Jackson walked seven over four innings, and was responsible for the other five runs. He too struck out six.
Thunder Bay fell to 9-23 in the second half, 23-44 overall. It was the 15th time in 67 games the Border Cats pitching staff gave up double-digit runs.
The Cats and Loggers play a rematch on Friday night. Thunder Bay returns home on Saturday for a doubleheader against the St. Cloud Rox and wrap up their 17th season at home on Sunday. Saturday’s games will be seven-inning affairs, the opener a make-up of a game lost to weather in St. Cloud earlier this season.