Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. \u2014 In search of their fifth road win of the season, the Lakeshore Chinooks aspired to continue their prowess away from Kapco Park.<\/p>\n
They would have to plow through a low-scoring pitcher\u2019s duel first, though.<\/p>\n
Relying on only two hits, the Chinooks (5-7) shut off the Rafters (6-7) late to hand Wisconsin Rapids its first shutout loss of the season, 1-0.<\/p>\n
\u201cNice to be on the good side after a tough loss last night,\u201d Chinooks manager Travis Akre said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t get a whole lot going offensively, but we played well defensively to put us in position for the win.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was right-hander Jack Kartsonas\u2019 turn to start the Chinooks off on the mound, and the right-hander of Kent State failed to disappoint Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo nerves,\u201d Kartsonas said on his mind frame prior to his first start of the season. \u201cI started some at school this season, so I am accustomed to it. It\u2019s fun to win especially a close game, it was a good team win. One-run games are always a grind and it\u2019s always nice to come out on top.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having allowed one hit and two walks through the first three frames\u2014one of which was completed on five pitches\u2014Kartsonas cruised while leaving the Rafters\u2019 lineup in a rut early.<\/p>\n
\u201cJack competed his tail off today,\u201d Akre said. \u201cHe didn\u2019t have his best stuff today, believe or not, but he was able to work ahead and get a few short innings. That\u2019s what gave us a chance to win, hats off to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pittsburgh native\u2019s three-hit display across the first six innings gave Lakeshore\u2019s lineup just enough time to find a spark at the plate.<\/p>\n
The spark may have not resembled anything near a home run or an extra-base hit, but catcher Stephen Hrustich tapped a groundout to third base, plating third baseman Dalton Doyle for the game-winning run in the fifth.<\/p>\n
Kartsonas was lifted in the seventh, yet the Lakeshore bullpen refused to take a foot off the gas pedal. Right-handed reliever Jim Jarecki kept the momentum alive, holding Wisconsin Rapids to one walk while forcing a 4-6-3 double play to end the seventh, and later passed the ball to Cade Berendt for the final out of the eighth.<\/p>\n
After helping guide the Chinooks to three wins in four appearances, Berendt struck out cleanup hitter Ben Swords on a full count. The southpaw of Germantown, Wisconsin, eliminated the Rafters\u2019 threat after first baseman Hank Zeisler stole second base.<\/p>\n
\u201cA reliable bullpen is huge,\u201d Berendt said. \u201cIt makes things easier for everyone, starters don\u2019t feel as much pressure to get deep into games knowing they can trust the guys behind them, and coaches aren\u2019t as reluctant to go to the pen early, if need be, knowing they\u2019ve got guys out there who will get the job done. My mindset is just go in and do my job.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Chinooks entered the ninth with aspirations of securing one or multiple insurance runs, though remained empty-handed.<\/p>\n
A pair of pop outs to catcher Angelo D\u2019Acunto to begin the top half brought up Lakeshore\u2019s only run scorer in Doyle, but the Eastern Illinois redshirt junior was unable to get his team a runner aboard.<\/p>\n
Two-way player Brennen Bales, who capped off an 8-5 victory in the 13th<\/sup> inning over Green Bay for his first win, surrendered Wisconsin Rapids\u2019 final hit of the evening on an infield single to center fielder Couper Cornblum.<\/p>\n D\u2019Acunto then worked a five-pitch walk with one out, setting up right fielder Elijah Dickerson as the winning run.<\/p>\n A light at the end of the tunnel began to appear after the Rafters\u2019 8 2\/3 innings of scoreless baseball, as Dickerson lasered a 1-1 pitch towards center field.<\/p>\n But despite not having played a complete game since June 3 versus Fond du Lac, center fielder Pierce Blohowiak was ready.<\/p>\n The Yale product made a backhand catch on the run in the direction of the center field wall, saving the day and keeping the Chinooks out of a sudden death setting in extra innings.<\/p>\n \u201cRelief pitching was great; slamming the door,\u201d Kartsonas said.<\/p>\n Kartsonas picked up his first win as a Chinook after relinquishing no runs on three hits while striking out seven batters through six innings, and Rafters right-hander Ben Vespi was tacked with the loss.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat win for the team,\u201d Berendt said. \u201cWhen you\u2019re struggling like we are out of the gates this season, it\u2019s important to hold leads once you get them, and we did a great job of that tonight. Big morale boost for the team heading into these next three games before the off-day.\u201d<\/p>\n Garnering the shutout win in barely two hours and 27 minutes, the Chinooks will take the diamond inside Witter Field once more against the Rafters Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. \u2014 In search of their fifth road win of the season, the Lakeshore Chinooks aspired to continue […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":11390,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-team-news"],"yoast_head":"\n