Eli Benes
WAUSAU, Wi.- Leading by three runs with nine outs left to record to split a two-game set with the Wausau Woodchucks, the Lakeshore Chinooks’ offense on Sunday, August 2 scored 10 runs through the first seven innings.
Despite this, the Chinooks’ pitching staff allowed eight runs after the top of the seventh inning, allowing a season-high 15 runs in a eventual 15-10 loss.
The Chinooks struggled to limit damage in individual innings, allowing five multi-run innings, tied for the most allowed in a single game this season by the Chinooks. Like the first game of the set, the Chinooks started the game by scoring a pair of runs in the first inning.
After David Mysza reached base with one out on a outfield error, Jack Counsell started the scoring by driving him in on a single to right field. With two outs, Nick Allred made it a two-run effort driving in Counsell on a single.
Trailing early for the second game in the set, Wausau evened the score by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. The Woodchucks attacked Chinook starting pitcher Santino Pignotti-Wojtak early, driving in a run on three hits before making an out.
Following an active first inning, both teams traded blows on offense, with Wausau leading Lakeshore 7-6 through six innings. Making his first appearance since July 21, reliever Ben Groeschl allowed three runs in a inning of work despite allowing five runs in 30.2 innings pitched going into Sunday.
Entering the seventh inning trailing by a run, the Chinooks put runners on first and second base with two outs. Playing in only his sixth game of the season for the Chinooks, Toufic Khabie came up big with a three-run home run to left field, his first of the year.
After a Casey Robinson double, the Chinooks scored their fourth run of the inning thanks to a Joshua Chairez RBI single. Earning a come from behind win in Saturday’s contest, Wausau did the same as their eight hits in the seventh and eighth inning were to much to handle for the Chinooks.
Losing both contests to Wausau, the Chinooks have a half-game lead over the Woodchucks in the Great Lakes West with six games left in the regular season.
