Mequon, WI – The Lakeshore Chinooks brought a 4-3 record into Tuesday's contest looking to get a key win over the division-leading Madison Mallards (5-1). In what became an extra-innings thriller after the Chinooks overcame an early 6-0 deficit, the team would end up losing the game by a score of 7-6 in an 11-inning contest.

John Schreiber (Kent State) had the tall task of following up two great starts by Lake Bachar (UW-Whitewater) and Gavin Downs (Purdue), and he could not replicate their success for the Chinooks. Over three innings, he let up four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three. The roughest spot of his start came in the top of the second, when he let up a three-run homer to Mallards left fielder Scott Tyler (Ball State).

Reliever Sam Burum (Seton Hall) came on in hopes of limiting the damage, but he quickly gave up a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. He settled down after that, though, keeping the Mallards scoreless for the next two frames. 

The Chinooks were held without a run by Justin Hill (Southeastern CC) through three innings, but they got to him in the fourth, plating two. The frame started off when Doug Kraeger (Richmond) singled, and Greg Deichmann (Louisiana State) followed up with a base knock of his own. Lucas Raley (Lake Erie College) came through with the key hit, smacking a triple to drive both of them in, making the score 6-2.

The team came back in the very next frame to plate yet another pair of runs. Rich Rodriguez (Cincinnati) and Drake Parker (Vanderbilt) led off the inning with a hit by pitch and a walk respectively. After Jake Romano (Miami-Ohio) bunted them over, Kraeger smacked a double down the left field line to drive in both runners.

Down 6-4, the Chinooks managed to tie things up in the eighth. Taking on reliever Vince Arobio (Pacific), Kraeger notched his fourth hit of the day with a leadoff single. Kyle Wood (Purdue) later doubled to put runners on second and third with one out, and a single from Raley brought home Kraeger to make it 6-5. Wood then scored the tying run on a passed ball, sliding into home just ahead of a tag from Mallards catcher Jean Ramirez (Illinois State).

Kody Hessemer (Baylor) came on in the seventh for the Chinooks, making his second appearance of the year after throwing two scoreless innings against Green Bay last Thursday. He had a brilliant outing, throwing 4.2 innings and leaving in the top of the eleventh with the game still tied having struck out seven batters. Unfortunately for Hessemer, he was charged with an earned run and the loss after he was relieved by Shea Murray (Ohio State), who allowed an inherited runner to score the go-ahead run.

The Chinooks threatened to once again tie things up in the bottom of the eleventh, when Jake Kolasinski (UW-Parkside) led off the inning with a double. The next three batters struck out, however, to end the club's threat.

"That was a great way to keep fighting," said manager Eddy Morgan of his team's effort. "[We were] down six and kept scratching. That is exactly what you want from a team." 

The Chinooks move to an even 4-4 after the loss. The club will look to get back over .500 on Wednesday, June 3rd as they travel to Wisconsin Rapids to take on the Rafters in the first of a two-game set. After the conclusion of that series, the team will return home on Friday, June 5th to oppose the Battle Creek Bombers in the first contest of a four-game home stand.

The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website.  For more information, visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com.