BY RICH PALZEWIC
CORRESPONDENT
GREEN BAY – Matthew Acosta hit a two-run homer in the bottom of ninth inning to give the Green Bay Bullfrogs a 6-4 win over the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters July 13 at Joannes Stadium.
Acosta (USC) drilled a 1-1 pitch over the wall to score Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo (Navarro College) to help the ‘Frogs win their second game in a row. Green Bay had beaten Rapids the night before, 15-1.
The Northwoods League game didn’t end until 11:05 due to a 35-minute delay at the start of the game because of rain/field conditions.
The Bullfrogs (15-31 overall, 3-7 second half) had previously lost 12 of their last 13 games before sweeping the two-game home-and-home series with the Rafters (20-25, 5-5).
Green Bay was outhit on the night by a 10-9 margin, but five errors from Rapids helped the Bullfrogs’ cause.
The ‘Frogs had taken a 4-2 lead in the fourth after sending 10 batters to the dish. Green Bay used five hits and three errors to jump ahead.
Luke Robinson (Western Carolina) and Cooper Morrison (UC Davis) had two hits apiece, while Acosta and Andre Antone (UC Irvine) each had a pair of RBI.
With the Bullfrogs leading 4-2 heading into the ninth, Rapids scored two runs to tie things up, setting up Acosta’s heroics a few minutes later.
Starting pitcher Leo Perez (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) had an impressive outing on the mound in his seven innings of work. The righty gave up just two earned runs and struck out seven before giving way to Elijah Baez (St. Bonaventure) in the eighth. David Toth (Hillsdale College) got the final out in the ninth (on three pitches) to record the win.
The ‘Frogs will return home on Sunday with a 1:05 game against Lakeshore.
Box score
Wisconsin Rapids: 101 000 002 – 4 10 5
Green Bay: 000 400 002 – 6 9 1