Wausau, Wis. \u2013 The Lakeshore Chinooks were not prepared to go down without battling until the very final play.<\/p>\n
Despite falling into an almost inescapable hole, they clawed back with a three-run rally in the fourth inning and threatened late.<\/p>\n
Second baseman Colton Bauer lined a leadoff double down the right field line, posing an immediate scoring opportunity in the ninth. First baseman Griffin Doersching then worked a one-out walk as Ethan Vecrumba pinch ran.<\/p>\n
Though the tying run advanced to third base on a fielder\u2019s choice, the late rally was not enough as Lakeshore (6-10) was unable to complete its comeback in a third straight loss, 6-5.<\/p>\n
Wisconsin (9-5) entered Thursday with the third-fewest hits in the Northwoods League, yet unleashed the power of its lineup early toward its eighth win in 11 contests.<\/p>\n
Back on the mound for the Chinooks, Tommy Lamb ran into trouble against a Woodchucks team he had not seen in 2021. The southpaw of Creighton relinquished two home runs as Lakeshore trailed, 6-1.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a competitor, I\u2019ve got no worries about him,\u201d Akre said. \u201cHe\u2019ll come back and he\u2019ll be stronger than ever. This is just not a very good outing for him and he knows that, and he\u2019ll be prepared for the next outing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Right-hander Brody Ware lifted Lamb after the first two outs were recorded and tossed the subsequent 2 1\/3 innings while keeping the Woodchucks to two hits and two walks.<\/p>\n
While the Lakeshore bullpen slowed Wisconsin\u2019s offensive attack, the heart of the Chinooks\u2019 lineup ignited a spark in the fourth. A pair of walks and a single hit by left fielder Connor Kimple loaded the bases with no outs. Catcher Riley Swenson then lasered a two-run double to center field for his first RBI since collecting two versus the Woodchucks at Athletic Park on July 13.<\/p>\n
Capping off the fourth-inning rally, Bauer scored Kimple on a sacrifice fly to slice the deficit to two, 6-4.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought our offense, I mean they worked our way back into the ballgame,\u201d Akre said. \u201c[We] left a few guys on but I thought we made some decent approaches at the plate, especially with guys on [base] and we were able to get back in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Woodchucks reliever Tyler Murrah turned away six consecutive Chinooks batters but was unable to make it seven. Bauer launched a leadoff solo home run to left field in the seventh, reducing the Woodchucks\u2019 lead to one.<\/p>\n
Designated hitter Jackson Gray was placed on second with a two-out double to center field as the tying run, but third baseman Stephen Hrustich could not knock in Lakeshore\u2019s seventh hit, striking out swinging instead.<\/p>\n
The Chinooks\u2019 bullpen continued preventing the Woodchucks order from converting on scoring threats, as Wisconsin totaled 11 runners left on base. A leadoff walk in the seventh and a 3-4 fielder\u2019s choice offered momentum for the Woodchucks, but reliever Mitch Mueller struck out Wisconsin shortstop Brock Watkins to conclude the seventh.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur bullpen was pretty gritty,\u201d Akre said. \u201cWe [went] out there and gave up a six and hung zeroes out there the rest of the way. I mean, credit to them for giving us a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even with the Woodchucks 1-for-8 through the final three frames, Gray struck out for Lakeshore\u2019s ninth and Hrustich popped out to second base, vanishing the Chinooks\u2019 hopes of snapping their losing streak in extra innings.<\/p>\n
Woodchucks left-hander Nate Madej garnered the save in his first appearance after Colin Millar registerd his first hold. Murrah took the win after replacing Wisconsin starter Peyton Schofield in the fourth.<\/p>\n
Lamb was tacked with his fourth loss after firing 36 pitches, moving to 1-4.<\/p>\n
Having welcomed shortstop Evan Rice of California State Bakersfield and corner infielder Sam Beers of Concordia, the Chinooks search for added offensive contributions.<\/p>\n
\u201cNext man up, and that\u2019s what it is you know, guys are hungry to get an opportunity to get in here and play,\u201d Akre said. \u201cWe need a little bit of a spark in the offense part so hopefully those guys can help bring that for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Chinooks return to Athletic Park for Game 2 of their series against the Woodchucks, who look to tie their longest win streak of the season at five. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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