Mequon, WI – After splitting the series with the Wisconsin Woodchucks up in Wausau, the Lakeshore Chinooks returned home Saturday night where they took on the Green Bay Bullfrogs in game one of a two game series. The Chinooks came into the game 4.5 games back in the South Division and looked to add on some wins to their second half 14-14 record. After an exciting battle between the two ball clubs, the Chinooks finished on top with a 5-3 win over the Bullfrogs.
On the mound for the Bullfrogs was Harrisen Egly (Columbia University) who made his fifth start and came into the game with a 3.82 ERA in his 40 innings pitched.
The Chinooks jumped on Egly early in the bottom of the first after Matt Reardon (Florida Gulf Coast) led off the order with a deep, solo home run that gave the Chinooks a 1-0 lead.
The runs continued in the bottom of the third for the Chinooks as Joe Duncan (Eastern Illinois) roped a one out single and later reached home after Kevin Riley (Chaffey CC) smacked a standup RBI triple that put the Chinooks up 2-0. Tim DalPorto (Kent State) did his job at the plate as he hit a long sac fly to center that scored Riley and extended the Chinooks lead to 3-0.
Making only his second start on the year was Chinooks lefty pitcher Nick Lackney (Minnesota) who came into the game with a 3.33 ERA and 21 strikeouts in his 27 innings of work.
The Bullfrogs got on the board in the top of the fifth after Quincy Nieporte (Florida State) singled which allowed a baserunner to reach home and put the score at 3-1 Chinooks.
Lackney went a strong five innings and only gave up one unearned run while he racked up 4 strikeouts.
Liam Jenkins (Arizona State) replaced Lackney on the mound in the top of the sixth and came into the game with a 4.32 ERA and 16 strikeouts in his 16.2 innings pitched.
Jenkins would struggle in the bottom of the sixth as he gave up back-to-back walks to Josh Hollander (Kent State) and Brad Hamilton (Kent State). Austin Clemons (University of Louisville) stepped up to the plate and reached first after he was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded Marcus Shoemaker (Lenoir Rhyne University) drew the third walk of the inning which brought Hollander home and made it 3-2 Chinooks.
After throwing an inning and giving up one earned run, Jenkins was taken out and Cole Gnetz (Miami-Ohio) took the mound for the Chinooks in the top of the seventh. Gnetz came into the game with a 3.66 ERA and 33 strikeouts in his 46.2 innings pitched
The Bullfrogs tied it up in the top of the seventh after Jonah Davis (University of California) led off the order with a ground rule double. With one out, Davis crossed home plate after Gnetz bobbled a ground ball and tied the game up at 3 a piece.
Gnetz went an inning and two thirds and gave up one earned run. To finish the inning, the Chinooks brought in relief pitcher Nick Horvath (Florida) who made his 14th appearance and came in with a 3.46 ERA and 28 strikeouts in his 26 innings of work.
Horvath got out of the rest of the eighth inning clean which brought up the heart of the Chinooks order in the bottom of the eighth where they faced Bullfrogs righty pitcher Peter Castillo (Palm Beach State College). Riley led off the order with a walk followed by Owen Miller (Illinois State) who ripped a one out single. James Bleming (Lehigh) got a beautiful squeeze bunt down along the right field line which scored Riley and regained the Chinooks their lead over the Bullfrogs 4-3. Matt Johnson (South Dakota State) was intentionally walked and Castillo then made a big mistake after he balked with the bases loaded which allowed Miller to score and gave the Chinooks a solid 5-3 lead.
Horvath returned to the mound for the top of the ninth where he kept the Bullfrog bat's quiet and helped secure the win for the Chinooks. Duncan would go an impressive 2-4 at the plate while Horvath would be awarded the win.
The Chinooks head to Green Bay on Sunday as they take on the Bullfrogs in game two of the series where they look to get the sweep and continue a winning record. First pitch will be at 4:05pm.
The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd 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 150 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visithttp://northwoodsleague.com/lakeshore-chinooks or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Chinooks as your favorite team.
