Mequon, Wis. — Explosive hitting gave the Lakeshore Chinooks(12-12) the upperhand in game one, winning 26-7 over the Madison Mallards(10-14). The dominance at the plate continued into game two; however two late game meltdowns spelled disaster for the Chinooks, dropping the second game 6-5. 

In the first game of the double header, the Chinooks found themselves in a four run hole early, after the Mallards jumped all over Lakeshore starter Ryan Jungbauer. The University of Northwestern Ohio junior faced just seven hitters before being lifted from the ball game, recording two outs on four hits and four earned runs. 

Getting the call from the bullpen, Mitch Mueller entered the game for Jungbauer, finishing the nightmarish 4-0 start for Field manager Travis Akre’s squad. 

Immediately, the Lakeshore offense got to work in the bottom half of the first. In an inning that took about an hour to complete, Lakeshore’s offense exploded for six runs on four hits and batting around in the order.

Scoring 20 more runs over their next seven at bats behind seven different Chinook hitters finishing game one with multiple RBI’s, the long ball played a big role in both of Wednesday’s games. A total of six flew over the outfield fences Wednesday, five being at the hands of a Lakeshore hitter. 

Jackson Gray hammered his first and second bombs of the season during game one, punching the ball to the same spot in right center field. Gray finished game one batting 3-4 with two home runs, a double and six RBI’s. 

“Just hit the ball hard.” Gray said on his approach. “That’s what I’m always looking to do and got some good pitches to do it.”

Fourteen Lakeshore hitters battled three different Madison pitchers in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring 11 runs on just four hits and four walks. 

In a blowout game, not much controversy is involved. Just about the most dramatic moment of the game was Griffin Doersching’s home run to left field. The umpires debated whether or not the ball went to the right of the foul poll or to the left of it.

After deciding the ball was hit in fair territory, Doersching officially became the Lakeshore Chinooks all time home run leader (15), leading the Chinooks to a 26-7 victory, just one run shy of the all-time Northwoods League record for most runs in a ball game. 

Doersching kept his hot bat rolling, managing to hit his second home run of the day in game two. The first baseman has a hit in five straight games at home,

In game two of Wednesday’s doubleheader, Lakeshore was in the driver’s seat for the first seven innings  of the ballgame. 

“We were in control for 7 and ⅔ of the game.” Akre said. “We get a lead off walk and generate some weak contact and the same thing in the ninth. We get a two out walk that ends up scoring two runs. Sometimes the baseball gods are with you and sometimes they’re against ya.”

Collin Mathews wasted no time, working on getting his team back to their winning ways, lasering a two run shot to deep left center field.

For both teams, the action offensive stalled as both teams’ pitchers looked almost untouchable, until Doersching launched one over the left center wall, his seventh home run on the season. His seventh on the season marks 16 career home runs as a Chinook, extending his record to one. 

Doersching’s heroics at the plate weren’t enough for a Chinooks team who suddenly found themselves only up 5-4 and in need of insurance runs. 

Tyler Schewietzer and Jordan Henderson were responsible for all 6 of the runs conceded Wednesday night. 

Suddenly, Lakeshore was in desperate need of one run for a tie, two runs for the win. After going on cruise control for most of game one and dominating this game early, the Chinook hitters struggled to turn it on when it mattered the most, having back to back 1-2-3 innings in the bottom of the eighth and bottom of the ninth innings, falling 6-5. 

Lakeshore welcomes in the Great Lakes West division leading Fond Du Lac Dock Spiders (15-9) for a two game series at home. The first match of the two game series is scheduled to start at 6:35 p.m. Thursday night. Thursday night is also Gill’s Reading Challenge Night #2, presented by Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Lakeshore splits doubleheader with Madison