Four double plays came back to bite the Wisconsin Woodchucks, as they dropped the opener to the Lakeshore Chinooks, 2-1, Monday night at Kapco Park.
It was a pitcher’s duel throughout, but the four twin-killings, one in particular in the fourth inning, came to be the demise of the Woodchucks (21-12, 39-38).
With one out in the fourth in a scoreless tie, third baseman Paul DeJong was hit by a pitch before designated hitter and Kansas product Blair Beck singled him to second. The bases became loaded after shortstop Ryan Howard walked. Left fielder Derek Peake then laced an RBI-single to right field, spotting the Chucks to the 1-0 advantage. However, the threat was halted at one when second baseman Zak Leighton grounded into the inning-ending double-play, and the Woodchucks would not threaten after that.
Lakeshore (24-8, 48-18) answered right away in their half of the fourth inning, as three singles and a sacrifice fly off Woodchucks’ starter Austin Orewiler gave the Chinooks the 2-1 lead, a lead they would carry until the end of the game.
Orewiler was given the loss, going four innings, surrendering two runs on six hits while striking out one and walking none. The bullpen was solid again for Wisconsin, as lefty Sam Mahar threw three scoreless innings in relief, and fellow southpaw Jared Skolnicki struck out the side in the eighth inning.
Chinooks’ starting southpaw Evan Kruczynski picked up the victory, tossing six innings, giving up just one run on four hits, striking out one and walking five.
Chucks’ right fielder Connor Beck tallied two hits on the night, the lone Wisconsin hitter to do so.
The Woodchucks are back in action on Wednesday night, as they take on the Chinooks in the finale at Kapco Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M.
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The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwood’s League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwood’s 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 115 Northwood’s League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwood’s League YouTube channel. For more information, visit woodchucks.com.