A 6-1 loss at the hand of the host Duluth Huskies has the Thunder Bay Border Cats at the brink of elimination.
The Huskies scored two in the third and three in the fourth off Thunder Bay starter Michael Woytek, (4-5) leaving the 11-17 Border Cats with little more than a hope and a prayer to make the postseason. Any combination of two Cats losses or Willmar or St. Cloud wins would mean lights out on the Thunder Bay season.
Pete Cappetta delivered the crushing blow in the fourth for the Huskies, a two-run triple that chased Cappetta in favour of reliever Paul Barton.
The Cats got their lone run in the eighth when Tanner Nivins singled home Taylor Honeycutt.
All-star Robbie Collier (7-1) scattered two hits over seven innings to earn the win.