After winning game one 12-5 on Monday night in Madison, the Lakeshore Chinooks (11-16) saw their three-game winning streak come to an end in a 3-2 loss to the Madison Mallards (16-12) Wednesday night at Moonlight Graham Field. The Chinooks held a 2-0 lead heading into the eighth, but were unable to close it out.

Lakeshore needed a good start from their starting pitcher, and they got just that and more from left hander Jason Buhl tonight. Buhl went 7.0 innings, allowing just one earned run on seven hits, and two strikeouts.

“It was great, I thought he was (working) around the zone the whole time and a lot of pitch-ability, but it was awesome,” said field manager Trevor Cho about Buhl’s performance.

The first real threat of offense came in the bottom of the fourth for Lakeshore. Matthew Deprey doubled with one out to put a runner in scoring position. Joey Spence then singled to right, but Deprey was thrown out trying to score on a perfect throw from Madison right-fielder Jack Tucker.

With two-outs, Sam Hojnar continued his hot bat with a double to right center, but yet again a Lakeshore runner was thrown out at home to keep the game scoreless.

It took until the bottom of the seventh for the first run to score, and it came from the Chinooks. Sam Hojnar led things off with a double off the wall in right center, his second of the game. Following a groundout, Drew Townsend walked to extend his on-base streak to fourteen games and put runners on first and second with one out.

Former Mallard Sam Vomhof followed that up a single to load the bases for Lakeshore. Then, a game after hitting a clutch go-ahead home run to help give the Chinooks a win, Carson Hansen steeped up again with a two-RBI double to right to put Lakeshore ahead 2-0.

Madison answered quickly in the next frame with some offense of their own. Keenan Taylor homered to lead off the inning and that cut the deficit in half, 2-1. That would not be it for the Mallards as an error and single put the tying run in scoring position, and Buhl’s night was done.

Tyler Deleskiewicz entered the game for Buhl to try and keep the lead. However, after loading the bases, Madison took the lead on a two-RBI single by Canyon Brown to make it 3-2 in favor of the Mallards.

In the bottom of the ninth, Lakeshore had a chance to tie the game. Adam Cootway was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Cootway then reached second on a pass ball to put the tying run in scoring position with one out. Yet, that is as far as he would get as the next two batters were retired to end the game.

“If you’re playing in the Northwoods (league) you’re here for a reason. They performed and executed well, and that’s what Madison did tonight to get the win.”

The teams tied in hits at nine a piece.  Sam Hojnar led the way for Lakeshore, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored. Carson Hansen followed up his two-RBI game Monday with another one tonight.

The Lakeshore Chinooks will continue this home stand tomorrow night against the Green Bay Rockers. First pitch from Moonlight Graham Field is set for 6:35 p.m. CST.