THUNDER BAY – A four-run seventh inning has the Thunder Bay Border Cats back in the win column and back above .500.
Billy Cook and Nick Conti hit back-to-back run-scoring doubles on Thursday night to chase Bismarck reliever Walker Armstrong after just three batters, in what proved to be the difference in Thunder Bay’s 8-4 win over the visiting Larks at Port Arthur Stadium.
Newcomer Dylan Caplinger also had an RBI single in the inning, while Brandon Brossard capping the scoring with a bases-loaded walk.
Cook, who leads the team with a .318 average this season, was 4-for-5 on the night, scoring twice and driving in three in support of starter Calvin Wood, who allowed just two hits and two walks over five innings, just one of the two runs he surrendered earned.
Cook now has 15 doubles, leaving him two behind Northwoods League leader Jake Randa
Jack Rasmussen picked up the win in relief, giving up two runs on two hits over two innings. Armstrong took the loss.
Conner Bock homered for Bismarck (2-7). The Border Cats improved to 5-4.
The teams will wrap up their four-game series on Friday night.
