Border Cats Walk It Off Again, Edge Rochester 2-1 in 10-Inning Thriller

THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay Border Cats are officially rolling.

On a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon at Port Arthur Stadium, the Cats stretched their winning streak to four games with a gritty 2-1, 10-inning victory over the Rochester Honkers in front of 715 fans.

With the win, Thunder Bay has climbed all the way back to the .500 mark at 7-7. Just as important, the Cats have now recorded three walk-off wins at home this season, giving the Port Arthur Stadium faithful plenty of reason to believe this team is finding its stride.

Groh Delivers the Walk-Off Winner

The drama came in the bottom of the 10th inning.

With Owen Ralph of Lindenwood University starting the inning at second base as the automatic runner, Jorge Valdes of Xavier University did the little thing right, dropping down a sacrifice bunt to move Ralph to third.

That brought Logan Groh of the University of Nebraska to the plate with the winning run 90 feet away.

Groh did not miss his moment.

He lined a single into centre field, Ralph came home, and the celebration was on as the Border Cats poured out of the dugout for another walk-off party in Thunder Bay.

A Classic Pitchers’ Duel

This one was a beauty for fans who love pitching, defence and tension.

Thunder Bay starter Tyler Bribiescas was outstanding.

The University of Arkansas-Monticello left-hander did not allow a hit until there were two outs in the sixth inning, when Rochester finally scratched out an infield single.

That was all the Honkers could manage against him.

Bribiescas worked six shutout innings, allowing just one hit, walking nobody and striking out eight. It was a dominant performance from start to finish and exactly the kind of outing that gives a ball club a chance to win a tight game.

Roberts Matches Him Pitch for Pitch

Rochester starter Maclain Roberts was every bit as sharp.

The University of Arizona southpaw carried a no-hitter through six innings, walking two and striking out seven as the Honkers kept the Border Cats’ bats quiet.

That bid ended in the seventh when catcher Hayden Crites of McLennan Community College singled to centre field with nobody out and a runner aboard.

The Cats finished the afternoon with only three hits, but they made them count. In a game like this, one swing can change everything — and in the 10th, Groh provided it.

Mercado Slams the Door

Out of the bullpen, Lucas Mercado of Ouachita Baptist University gave Thunder Bay exactly what it needed.

Mercado tossed two scoreless innings, striking out two Rochester hitters to earn his first victory of the season. In a one-run game, every pitch mattered, and Mercado answered the bell.

The win also moves the Border Cats to an impressive 6-2 at home, where they are turning Port Arthur Stadium into a tough stop for visiting clubs.

Cats Back to .500 and Gaining Momentum

What a difference a week can make.

The Border Cats have gone from searching for traction to playing confident, winning baseball. Four straight wins. Three walk-off victories at home. A .500 record. A bullpen holding firm. Starters giving quality innings. A lineup finding just enough offence in the biggest moments.

That is how a season starts to turn.

Road Trip Next, Then Back Home Thursday

The Border Cats get Monday off before heading to Wisconsin for a two-game series against the Wausau Woodchucks.

First pitch Tuesday is set for 7:35 p.m. ET, with left-hander Vincent Segovia of the University of Arkansas-Monticello scheduled to make his first start of the season for Thunder Bay.

The Cats return home Thursday night to open a two-game set against the St. Cloud Rox at Port Arthur Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

For now, the hometown club leaves the weekend with momentum, belief and another walk-off memory for the fans in Thunder Bay.