Seven-Run Seventh Lifts Bombers to Comeback Win

Tim Hackett, Broadcasting Intern

Wausau, Wis.- The Wisconsin Woodchucks led 4-1 after six innings of play Sunday afternoon. After six-and-a-half innings, they trailed 8-4. Wisconsin (16-24; 1-4) pulled close with three runs in the final three, but the seven-run outburst in the seventh inning by the Battle Creek Bombers (24-16; 4-1) was more than enough to propel the visitors to a 9-7 win.

Tyler Garam gave up a lot of walks in his first start against his former team, and in his second start he gave up a lot of hits. Wisconsin finally cashed in in the third when Tristan Clarke doubled and Stevie Mangrum singled him home. Trey Dawson and Brady Lindsly both singled in the fourth and Clarke scored Dawson on a double and Ivan Nunez scored Lindsly on a groundout.

Meanwhile, Chucks starter Korey Rasure was perfect through three, needing only 33 pitches to get nine outs. He ran into some trouble in the fourth but got through unscathed, but Nikola Vasic led off the fifth with a single and came around to score on an error to get Battle Creek on the board.

Wisconsin answered back in the sixth against Tim Nelson. Lindsly led off with a double and the Chucks loaded the bases for Hunter Coleman, who delivered his second hit of the night to make it 4-1 Woodchucks.

Rasure came back out for the bottom half and allowed Tom Stoffel to single. He got Vasic to fly out to deep left but then JD Mundy drew a walk, marking the end of Rasure’s day. His 6.1 innings ties him with Heath Hawkins for the longest outing by a Wisconsin pitcher this year.

But the Wisconsin bullpen couldn’t hold his lead. Daniel Sprinkle came in to get the final two outs of the seventh, and he did – but not before he allowed both of Rasure’s runners and five of his own to cross home plate as part of a seven-run, eight-hit Battle Creek frame. Five different players tallied RBI singles in that inning alone and the Bombers seized an 8-4 lead.

 But Wisconsin did not go away. With one out against TJ Shook in the seventh, Yeager Taylor and Lindsly hit back-to-back doubles, and then Nunez grounded out to score Lindsly for the second time to pull the Chucks within two. Lenny Gwizdala issued a scoreless eighth but Nick Walker led off the ninth with a solo shot to right to give the Bombers some insurance.

They would end up needing that insurance. Lindsly capped off a four-hit day by leading off the ninth with a single, and Clarke followed with his third walk of the contest. Mangrum singled to left to score Lindsly and make it 9-7. Jackson Owens came on to pinch-run, representing the tying run, but Brylie Ware popped out and Coleman, after working a very long at-bat, lined out to the wall in right to end the game and hand Battle Creek the 9-7 comeback win.

The Woodchucks will look for their first win of this homestand as it wraps up tomorrow night. Austin Lambright will toe the hill for the Chucks as they look for revenge against Battle Creek, with first pitch at 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.