WAUSAU, WIS. – The Rockford Rivets scored six runs in the first inning and never looked back in ending their four game losing streak with a 12-5 win over the Wisconsin Woodchucks on Sunday at Athletic Park.

The Rivets wasted no time in knocking around Wisconsin starter Devin Skapura (2-1) as Braden Williams reached on a leadoff error in the first.  After a strikeout, David Cronin doubled home Williams, Michael Smith singled, and Neal Tyrell scored Cronin by beating out a fielder’s choice groundout to make it 2-0.  Jacob Vander Wal then laid down a bunt that was thrown wildly to first by Skapura, but first baseman George Janca never went after the ball, allowing Tyrell to score all the way from first.  Ricardo Ramirez and Gavin Johnson followed with run scoring hits, and a Williams single made it 6-0 before the end of the inning.

Drake Robison (2-2) used that support to his advantage, pitching five and two-thirds innings, allowing nine hits but only three runs (two earned) while walking three and striking out four.  Meanwhile, in the sixth, Ramirez would add his first home run, a solo shot to right field as part of a three run inning to make it 9-2.  The teams would trade runs the rest of the way.

The Rivets will open a two game series at home against the Battle Creek Bombers Monday night at 6:35 p.m.  Broadcasts and live streams can be found at NorthwoodsLeague.com. 

Rockford is a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League, which will play its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016. 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 (Washington Nationals) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (Chicago White Sox), Jordan Zimmermann (Detroit Tigers), Curtis Granderson (New York Mets), Lucas Duda (Mets) and Ben Zobrist (Chicago Cubs). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website, NorthwoodsLeague.com. For more information, visit RockfordRivets.com.