After the Lakeshore Chinooks and Madison Mallards went 16 innings Saturday evening in Mequon, the two teams headed up to Warner Park Sunday afternoon and wouldn’t you know it, nine innings wasn’t enough to complete this affair either. A two-out eleventh-inning double from Brant Valach (Eastern Illinois University) propelled the Chinooks  to a 5-4 win. 

Madison got on the board first in the first inning on a two-out RBI single from Drew Weeks to take the early 1-0 lead.

Chinooks starter Alex Young (Texas Christian University) and Mallards starter Greg Walsh traded zeros until the fifth when Lakeshore put three runs on the scoreboard.  Chris Manning (Valparaiso University) put the Chinooks on the board for the first time with a one-out solo home run, his second of the season.  John Norwood (Vanderbilt University) continued his torrid start to his Northwoods League career following Manning with a two-out, two RBI single. In just three games this season, Norwood has amassed seven RBIs.

The Mallards tied the score in the bottom of the sixth when former Lakeshore Chinooks slugger Bre Kimball launched a two-run home run.

The bullpen’s held the fort until the ninth inning when Brant Valach reached on an error by Mallards shortstop Mike Reuvekamp allowing Cody Bobbitt (Wichita State) to score. Madison put the first two runners on in the bottom the ninth against reliever Luke Lowry (Southern Mississippi).  Mitchell Sewald (Louisiana State University) wiggled out of the inning but not before the Mallards plated a run to tie the score on an RBI single from Tate Matheny.

Lakeshore had a chance in the 10th inning when Sawyer Polen (Kent State University) ripped a one-out double. He was cut down trying to advanced to third on a ground ball to take them out of the inning.

Sewald held his ground in the 10th setting down the Mallards heart of the order 1-2-3.

In the eleventh, the first two Lakeshore hitters were retired without much trouble. Harrison Bader (University of Florida) kept the inning alive with a single. Valach followed with a double.  An error in the outfield allowed Bader to score the go-ahead run.

Jason Goldstein picked up a one-out single in the 11th inning but was cut down trying to stretch it into a double ending any real threat by Madison to tie the score.

The win keeps the Chinooks one half game ahead of La Crosse in the race for first place in the southern division.  Lakeshore will taken off day Monday before embarking on on a four-game, two-city roadtrip in Eau Claire and La Crosse Tuesday through Friday.