MADISON, WI – (Wausau Woodchucks-WSAU) — The Wausau Woodchucks (4-7) scored the game’s final six runs at Warner Park Friday, holding the Madison Mallards (5-6) to one hit over the game’s final four innings in a 6-1 win.
The victory snaps a four-game skid for Wausau, who got a huge lift tonight from starting pitcher Ernie Lugo (Salt Lake CC).
Lugo improved to 2-0 on the season, throwing five innings of one-run ball for a second straight start. He struck out six and walked two, inducing a pair of key double plays in the process.
When Lugo left the game after five, the Woodchucks trailed 1-0. But once the visitors got into the Mallard bullpen, things started to go their way.
Camden Janik (Illinois) reached on an error, sparking a three-run rally in the sixth inning. Kevin Kilpatrick (Houston) contributed a base-hit in his 2022 debut, setting the stage for Mark Shallenberger (Evansville) to draw a bases-loaded walk. Two more runs would score on wild pitches, giving the Woodchucks the lead.
In the seventh, Brock Watkins (BYU) drove in a run with an infield single, part of his second multi-hit game of the season. Collin Reuter (BYU) also scored a run in the frame, his first as a Woodchuck after reaching base three times on the evening.
Ryan Sepede (BYU) homered to left field in the eighth inning, giving the Chucks their final insurance run. The homer is his first of the season, and the team’s second.
Aidan Major (West Virginia) worked two scoreless innings in his bullpen debut. He helped his own cause by turning a 1-6-3 double play, and was aided by a diving web gem by third baseman Brent Widder (Evansville).
Carter Heninger (San Jose State) and David Barrett (Florida State) slammed the door from there, pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth inning respectively. Neither have allowed an earned run over a combined 13 innings of work this season, solidifying their key bullpen roles.
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters defeated the Green Bay Rockers 10-8 to win their first game of the series. Ben Ross (Notre Dame College) started the first inning off with a home run to right field to score the first run of the game. Ross also homered again in the third inning to score two more runs. Tommy Barth (East Tennessee State University) led his team with 4 hits including three singles, one double and two RBI. Grant Manning (Chapman University) had the win pitching four innings with seven strikeouts.
Today the Woodchucks are at Madison and the Rafters play at Green Bay.
