Late offensive surge propels the team to an 8-7 victory over the Wisconsin Woodchucks.

For the majority of their four game road trip, the Lakeshore Chinooks’ offense failed to produce runs when the team needed them most. But that changed Tuesday night against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. 

With a little help from a Wisconsin Woodchuck bullpen that struggled to find the plate, the Chinooks scored three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to top the Woodchucks, 8-7. 

Carson Beauchaine got the start for the Chinooks, who were in desperate need of a win coming in riding a five game losing streak. Beauchaine was the starting pitcher the last time the Chinooks won, last Wednesday in a 1-0 shutout of the Green Bay Bullfrogs. Beauchaine had his second consecutive solid outing, giving up just one earned run over 4 2/3 innings pitched while striking out three.

It was Ty Young who started the offense early for Lakeshore, rocketing a solo home run over the right center field fence in the top half of the first inning, and in the top half of the fifth Zack Granite scored the go-ahead run for the Chinooks, scoring on a throwing error from Woodchuck catcher Nate Irving. Granite forced a rushed throw from Irving as he stole third base, and scored as the throw got away from third baseman J.D Davis.

It was just a 2-1 game heading into the seventh inning, when the Chinooks started putting on the pressure. They loaded the bases on three straight walks before Nate Ruzich was hit by a pitch that drove in a run, making it 3-1 Lakeshore. Forrest Chadwick and Ty Young also drew walks pushing the score to a 5-1 Lakeshore advantage.

The Woodchucks battled back in the bottom half of the seventh, scoring five runs highlighted by a go-ahead three-run home run by Madison Carter off reliever Joe Greenfield. Carter was playing in his first game in a Woodchuck uniform. 

The Chinooks didn’t allow the momentum to shift the Woodchucks’ way however, going ahead for good on a 2-RBI single by Nate Ruzich in the eighth and putting Greenfield in position for the win. Tyler Sparger recorded the final six outs for the Chinooks and improved their record to 10-11 overall. The rubber match between the Chinooks and Woodchucks is Wednesday at Kapco Park, with first pitch at 6:35.