TRAVERSE CITY, MI (WSAU) – For a second consecutive game, the Traverse City Pit Spitters used a big inning to overpower the Wausau Woodchucks. Saturday night, a six-run fourth inning proved decisive in a 9-4 Pit Spitter win.
The Woodchucks (16-18) erased an early 2-0 deficit with a game-tying rally in the top of the third. After Collin Reuter (BYU) led off with a single, Brent Widder (Evansville) drove him in with an opposite-field base hit. Mark Shallenberger (Evansville) plated Widder with a sacrifice fly to knot the score at two.
But in the bottom of the fourth, the Pit Spitters loaded the bases against Woodchuck starter Nate Madej (Florida Southern). Madej was pulled, and reliever Trevor Ernt (San Jose State) came in to try and escape the jam.
At first, he induced a double play turned by Widder and Reuter to erase the lead runners. But the Pit Spitters did not relent. A pair of base hits gave them a 4-2 lead before a walk and wild pitch brought in another run. An infield single plated another run before a two-run double by Hunter Tabb wrapped up a six-run frame.
Ernt kept the Pit Spitters in check until the seventh when a run scored to increase their lead to 9-2. Jace Baumann (UW-Stout) finished that inning and later fired a scoreless eighth inning.
The Woodchucks threatened several times but would not score again until the top of the eighth. A double by Kevin Kilpatrick (Houston) brought home Zach Levenson (Miami). Later, an error allowed Amani Larry (Mississippi State) to reach base and Kilpatrick scored to cut the deficit to 9-4.
Widder walked, bringing Hunter Dorraugh (San Jose State) to the plate. He hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher, whose throw plunked Dorraugh on the helmet just a step shy of first base and rolled into right field.
But instead of a run-scoring error and a chance to bring the tying run on deck, the Woodchucks were assessed the inning’s third out. Dorraugh was deemed to have run out of the basepaths in the umpires’ judgment. Corey Thompson argued the pivotal call and was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Nathan Hall. It’s the first ejection for Thompson this season, and it comes after right fielder Ryan Sepede (BYU) was tossed late in last night’s game.
The Chucks travel to Kalamazoo and wrap up the first half on the road. They’ll start at 12:35 central time tomorrow in a battle with the Great Lakes East’s first-half champs.
The Woodchucks return home on July 7th for a five-game homestand. We’ll kick it off with a visit from The Amazing Tyler’s Balancing Act, followed by 90’s Night and Post-Game Fireworks presented by Cellcom and Northstar Mohican Casino Resort on Friday, July 8th. The fun continues with games from Saturday, July 9th through Monday, July 11th. Bark in the Park, presented by Fleet Farm returns to Athletic Park on Sunday, July 10th. Information and tickets for all upcoming Woodchucks games can be found at woodchucks.com.
Other scores from Saturday in the Northwoods League:
Lakeshore Chinooks 7, Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 5
The Lakeshore Chinooks split the series as they defeated the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 7-5. The Chinooks rallied back to take the lead in the top of the ninth scoring three runs. Tommy Lamb (Creighton University) had the win on the mound throwing five innings with five strikeouts. Tony Livermore (Northwestern University) reached base three times with two hits, a walk and one RBI with a stolen base. Matthias Haas (Cal Poly) had a double driving in two runs to contribute to the offense.
Rockford Rivets 10, Battle Creek Battle Jacks 9
The Rockford Rivets rallied back to split the series against the Battle Creek Battle Jacks 10-9. Colton Klein (Carthage College) earned Northwoods League Player of the Night as he went three for four with four RBI and a stolen base. Matthew Mebane (South Georgia State College) had two hits including a single and a double with three RBI. Noah Ruen (Tyler Junior College) came into the game in the sixth inning to receive the win on the mound throwing 1.1 innings with three strikeouts.
Kenosha Kingfish 8, Kalamazoo Growlers 6
The Kenosha Kingfish took game two of the series as they defeated the Kalamazoo Growlers 8-6. The Kingfish struck first, scoring their first run with an RBI double by Ian Collier (Grayson College). Collier also had a home run in the top of the sixth scoring their final run of the game. Taylor Darden (University of the Incarnate Word) had two hits with three RBI. Connor Hicks (Notre Dame) reached base three times with a hit, two walks and a stolen base, scoring twice as he reached first. Victor Loa (Texas State University) started the game on the mound throwing five innings with five strikeouts.
St.Cloud Rox 8, Eau Claire Express 7
The St.Cloud Rox won their seventh game in a row as they took the series against the Eau Claire Express 8-7. Trevor Austin (Mercer University) and Jack Steil (North Dakota State University) both led their team with two hits and a double driving in three runs combined. Brice Matthews (University of Nebraska) and Charlie Condon (University of Georgia) both had a double and a walk scored each time they reached base. The Rox generated eight hits to give them their 25th win on the season.
Duluth Huskies 4, La Crosse Loggers 0
The Duluth Huskies are now one win away from a playoff bid as they defeat the La Crosse Loggers 4-0. Jake Hamilton (Oklahoma Baptist University) received Northwoods League Pitcher of the Night throwing six scoreless innings giving up two hits with eight strikeouts. The Huskies scored their first two runs of the game in the fourth inning with a home run by Peyton Powell (University of Texas at Austin). Kristian Campbell (Georgia Tech) scored the fourth run of a game with a sac fly. Campbell had a walk, RBI and a stolen base on the night.
Madison Mallards 10, Green Bay Rockers 5
The Madison Mallards won their fourth game in a row as they took the win against the Green Bay Rockers 10-5. Payton Smith (Georgia Gwinnett College) and Liam Moreno (Missouri State University) both had three hits with a double and one RBI to lead the Mallards. Estevan Moreno (Notre Dame) had two hits with a double in the second inning to score two runs. Jan Rollon (Southern University and A&M College) reached base three times with a single, double and a walk. Michael Finan (Iowa Western Community College) had the win on the mound throwing the first five innings with three strikeouts.
Willmar Stingers 4, Bismarck Larks 2
To split the series the Willmar Stingers took the win against the Bismarck larks 4-2. The Stingers scored their four runs in the sixth inning with Jake Entrekin (Point Loma Nazarene University) driving in two runs with a single to center field. Jakob Christian (Point Loma Nazarene University) and Zac Corbin (Kennesaw State University) both had two hits with a walk and a stolen base. Jack Habeck (St. Cloud State University) had the win on the mound throwing six innings with three strikeouts allowing only one run to score. The Stingers generated seven hits with five stolen bases for their 19th win of the season.
Rochester Honkers 9, Mankato MoonDogs 5
The Rochester Honkers rallied back to split the series against the Mankato MoonDogs 9-5. The Honkers scored four runs in the sixth inning to take the lead. Tyler White (California State University, Long Beach) reached base three times with two hits, a walk and two stolen bases to lead the Honkers. Austin Davis (West Virginia University) and Nico Regino (San Joaquin Delta College) both had two hits with an RBI to contribute to the offense. Frank Craska (Lafayette College) threw three innings with four strikeouts to earn the win on the mound.
Minnesota Mud Puppies 11, Waterloo Bucks 10
For their sixth win of the season the Minnesota Mud Puppies split the series against the Waterloo Bucks 11-10. The Mud Puppies struck first, scoring five runs in the first inning. Noah Dehne (North Dakota State University) reached base three times with a double and two walks driving in three runs and scoring each time he reached base. Sterling Sutcliffe (Hutchinson Community College) led the offense with two hits including a double and three RBI. The Mud Puppies generated eight hits with 12 walks on the night.
Fond du Lac Dock Spiders 11, Kokomo Jackrabbits 1
To take the series, the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders defeated the Kokomo Jackrabbits 11-1. The Spiders scored five runs in back to back innings to give them the lead. Kyte McDonald (Wichita State University) went two for four with a triple and three RBI. Tyeler Hawkins (University of Louisville) had two hits with a double, two RBI and a stolen base. Stephen Schissler (Nova Southeastern University) had an outstanding performance on the mound throwing five innings with nine strikeouts giving up only two hits.
Sunday’s Schedule:
Wausau @ Kalamazoo (1:35pm)
Battle Creek @ Kokomo (2:05pm)
St.Cloud @ Eau Claire (2:05pm)
Duluth @ Waterloo (2:35pm)
Fond du Lac @ Madison (5:05pm)
Lakeshore @ Kenosha (5:05pm)
Rochester @ La Crosse (5:05pm)
Willmar @ Bismarck (5:35pm)
Rockford @ Traverse City (7:05pm)
Green Bay @ Wisconsin (6:35pm)
