Nunez’ Perfect Day Leads Woodchucks to Win in Thriller

Madison, Wis.- Ivan Nunez came into Saturday’s game with two hits on the season. He finished the night with seven. Nunez recorded five hits in five at bats, and his fifth one drove in the winning run in the ninth, as the Wisconsin Woodchucks (5-7) staved off a furious late Madison Mallards (5-7) comeback with a 5-4 victory in the state’s capital city.

Heath Hawkins turned in the best performance by a Woodchucks starter this year, but he ran into a spot of trouble in the first when Madison loaded the bases with nobody out. But Hawkins got cleanup hitter Jeffery Mitchell, Jr. to strike out and Brock Weimer to hit into a double play to avoid any damage in the opening stanza.

The Woodchucks struck first in the third when Milton Rivera walked with one out and Tristan Clarke doubled him home. Madison tied it up in the fourth when Doran Turchin walked, advanced on an error, and scored on a groundout.

Errors cost Mallards starter Heath Renz, as Rivera and Stevie Mangrum both scored unearned runs in the fourth to make it 3-1. The Chucks struck once more against reliever Dom Savino when Dalton Reed walked and Nunez singled him home.

The Mallards had just two hits over the first seven innings, but they struck for four in the eighth to tie things up. Daily, Turchin and Mitchell, Jr. all drove home runs against previously perfect reliever Armando Gonzalez as the Mallards miraculously levelled the score. Lenny Gwizdala got the final two outs, but the score was tied at four through eight.

David Stover came in to pitch the ninth for Madison and got the first two hitters he faced out with relative ease. But Chad Fleischman made him work, walking on seven pitches to prolong the inning. The DH was lifted for pinch-runner Andreas Papageorge, and up to the plate stepped a perfect Nunez. He delivered once again, smashing a double down the left field line, scoring a hustling Papageorge from first to reestablish a 5-4 Woodchucks lead.

Then it was OJ’s turn. Orsen Josephina had been a perfect four-for-four in save situations, but his fifth chance got off to a rocky start when he hit Thomas Smart to lead off the ninth. Jake Matheny sacrificed him to second, but then Josephina locked in, getting Jalen Harrison and Daily to strike out to preserve the win for the Woodchucks.

Hawkins was very sharp, allowing just one hit and one unearned run over six innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. But Nunez was the real story, finishing the night with two singles, three doubles and two RBI in a truly great hitting performance.

The Chucks are back at home for an afternoon game Sunday against Battle Creek. Gordon Cardenas will make his 2017 home debut as the Woodchucks take on the Bombers at 3:05 PM.

Tickets are on sale to all Wisconsin Woodchucks home games and the 2017 Northwoods League Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, presented by Ascension. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 715.845.5055 or by stopping by the Woodchucks front office during normal business hours.

###

The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.woodchucks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Woodchucks as your favorite team.