WAUSAU, WI – In a game of several pitching and lead changes, the Wisconsin Woodchucks were unable to overcome the late-inning heroics of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. The Woodchucks lost by a final score of 14-7.
The Rafters scored first in the third inning, but the Woodchucks quickly responded in the fourth inning. Kaeber Rog hit an RBI single that brought home Adam Frank and Byron Murray. This gave the Woodchucks their first lead of the game at 2-1. Javier Rosario added to the Woodchucks lead with a sacrifice hit that brought home TJ Reeves. This increased the Woodchucks lead to 3-1.
The seventh inning was full of scoring for both teams. TJ Reeves hit an RBI double that brought home Adam Frank and Alec Arnone. This gave the Woodchucks a 5-1 lead. That lead was quickly erased after the Rafters scored four runs to tie the game at 5-5.
Jared Pettitte started on the mound for the Woodchucks. He tossed 6.2 innings and allowed one run on three hits. The University of Houston product walked five and struck out three. The Woodchucks then used an array of relief pitchers to finish out the game.
The Woodchucks reclaimed the lead in the eighth inning. Brandon Seltzer hit an RBI single that drove in two runs. Kaeber Rog and Javier Rosario scored. This gave the Woodchucks a 7-5 lead.
A major lead change was made in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Rafters scored nine runs. This made the score 14-7 with the Woodchucks trailing. The Rafters carried their seven-run lead into the ninth inning when they soon closed out the game. The Woodchucks were unable to score a run in the ninth and lost by a final score of 14-7.
Top Performers
TJ Reeves went 2-4 with one walk, one run, and two RBI. The cleanup hitter drove two men in with an RBI double in the seventh inning.
Brandon Seltzer went 1-5 with two RBI. He hit a clutch two-run scoring single in the eighth inning that allowed the Woodchucks to reclaim that lead at 7-5.
Javier Rosario went 2-4 with one run and one RBI.
Jared Pettitte started on the mound for the Woodchucks. He tossed 6.2 innings and allowed one run on three hits. The University of Houston product walked five and struck out three.
Next Up
The Wisconsin Woodchucks will return home tomorrow on Friday, July 5th to play the Madison Mallards at 6:35 p.m. Post-game Fireworks will be held to the tune of Kenny Chesney hits, presented by Trig’s. The Woodchucks will then play in Madison on Saturday. For tickets, call us at 715.845.5055, stop by our front office, or visit woodchucks.com.
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The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 25-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 200 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). 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.