LOVES PARK, Ill – The Wisconsin Woodchucks did not have a great deal of success with the bats on Wednesday night at Rivets Stadium, but Steve Passatempo (UMASS Lowell) had a three run double stand up as the winning swing and Wisconsin did just enough to hold off the Rivets 5-2 in a game shortened to just over five innings due to rain.

Wisconsin took the lead in the third.  After lefty Nick Drahozal (Kirkwood CC) walked Cole Daily (Notre Dame), Steele Walker (Oklahoma), and Jared Oliva (Arizona), Passatempo cleared the bases with a double to right center off Drahozal (3-4) for a 3-0 lead.

Rockford would attempt a comeback in the fourth against Woodchucks all-star left hander Scott Parker (6-1).  After an out, consecutive singles by Michael Smith (San Jacinto JC), Troy Traxler (Minnesota), Cory Wright (Parkland CC), and Kian O’ Brien (Madison Tech) scored a pair to cut the deficit to 3-2.

In the sixth, the Woodchucks added to the lead.  Cade Harris (Oklahoma) walked and Javier Martinez (College of DuPage) launched a long two-run home run to left to extend the lead to 5-2.  The rains came thereafter and the game was called after an hour delay, which was the second delay of the night.

The Rivets open a two game series against the St. Cloud Rox at Joe Faber Stadium on Thursday night at 7:05. 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.