\n\tWAUSAU, WI – The Wisconsin Woodchucks overpowered the Kalamazoo Growlers, winning 20-1 on Friday night at Athletic Park.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Woodchucks (10-9, 22-32) jumped all over Growler starter Alec Byrd (Florida State) in the second inning. With one out and the bases loaded, Taylor Kohlway lifted a pitch to left for a two-run double. Ty Black (Ohio) brought a pair more home on a single, and Albee Weiss (Cal State Northridge) capped the scoring with a base hit to make it 5-0.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe romp spilled over into the third inning as Kohlway plated another on a sac fly. Three batters later following an error by John Soteropulos, Yusuke Akitoshi (Cal State Northridge) cleared the bases and the wall with a grand slam, his second home run of the season, to make it 10-0 for the home side.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tWisconsin continued scoring in increments of five in the fifth, capped by a three-run home run by Fishback. Weiss kept the fireworks show alive in the seventh with a two-run shot to left, capping a three-run inning to make it 18-0.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tSimon Matthews (Georgetown, 5-2) cruised to victory with five scoreless, four-hit innings. He walked none and struck out two on 48 pitches. Jake McMahon (St. Norbert College), Tim McElroy (Purdue), Kyle Dohy (Cal State Northridge), and Trevor Dudar (Midland) finished off the final four innings.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Growlers (5-18, 13-43) broke up the shutout in the eighth inning as Justin Fletcher (Northern Illinois) singled home Marquise Gill (Eastern Michigan) with two outs. The run was Kalamazoo’s first in 31 complete innings.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tByrd (0-4) took the loss Kalamazoo by allowing five runs on five hits in an inning and two-thirds. Tarrin Beachy (Huntington) allowed six runs in 2.1 innings in his Growler debut, while John Soteropulos (California) moved from third base to the pitcher’s mound for the final five outs.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tFletcher led the way for the Kalamazoo offense, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Kory Brown (Bowling Green) and Max Schuman (Utah) each singled and walked.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tAkitoshi finished the day 3-for-6 with the grand slam and six RBIs, while Black and Kohlway each plated three.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tWisconsin won the season series by taking six of eight from Kalamazoo, including the final four. The Woodchucks outscored the Growlers 38-2 in the last four games.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Growlers now head an hour south for a weekend series with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. First pitch on Saturday from Witter Field is set for 7:05 p.m. EDT.\n<\/p>\n