Mundy, Bombers Blast Past Woodchucks in Series Opener

Wausau, Wis.- The Wisconsin Woodchucks (5-8) lead the Northwoods League in home runs, but the Battle Creek Bombers (9-4) gave them a taste of their own medicine Sunday, smacking five home runs, from just two different players, en route to a 12-6 victory.

Battle Creek got off to a killer start, scoring three times in the first and three more times in the second. Alex Howard hit a two-run shot in the first to kickstart the scoring, and the Bombers didn’t look back. Wisconsin got one back in the bottom of the first on an Andrew Kendrick sac fly, but JD Mundy staked his side to a six-run lead with a solo shot in the third.

The Chucks tacked on three in the third to make it close. Kendrick hit a double and Ivan Nunez hit a two run shot. Two batters later, Jackson Owens hit a solo shot to make the score 7-4.

It would not get closer. Howard homered again to lead off the fourth and Mundy homered again to lead off the fifth to make it 9-4. Then JD Mundy stepped up with one man on in the seventh and completed his hat trick with a two-run homer to right to make it 11-4. Battle Creek added one more in the eighth to cap off their scoring at 12-4.

Wisconsin made it interesting in the bottom of the eighth. Andrew Smith walked and Milton Rivera doubled, and Brylie Ware, making his Woodchucks debut, singled them both home to make it 12-6. Wisconsin couldn’t score any more, and after 18 runs and 31 hits, the slugfest finally came to an end.

James Rogers pitched six innings for Battle Creek in his season debut, allowing four runs on 11 hits but picking up the win anyway. Gordon Cardenas took the loss for the Woodchucks. The home team will look to rebound tomorrow night for the second of two games against the Bombers, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 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.

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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.