Woodchucks Clinch Doubleheader Sweep

Just 30 minutes after overcoming an 8-2 deficit to beat the Battle Creek Bombers 9-8 in Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader, the Wisconsin Woodchucks scored early and often to clinch a doubleheader sweep over their foes from the Wolverine State.

Payton Nelson put a cherry on top of the evening with a two-run home run in the seventh inning, a pinch-hit big fly in his first Woodchuck plate appearance. The homer made it 11-2 in the seven-inning game, a score that stood through the last out.

With the win, Wisconsin improves to 40-23 and 19-9 in the second half of 2021. They move into first in the Great Lakes West second half and tie the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders for the overall division lead.

The Woodchucks scored four runs in the top of the second. Anthony Catalano doubled in Jacob Burke before scoring with Harrison Long off the bat of Aaron Simmons. Noah Fitzgerald then brought in Long on a fielder’s choice.

Battle Creek scored two in the fifth to cut the Chuck lead to 4-2.

But any doubt was extinguished a frame later with five Woodchuck runs. Each Chuck made a plate appearance in the inning. Aaron Simmons launched a solo home run to right, Catalano scored from second on a groundout, Long crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice and Fitzgerald came home on a fielder’s choice before Stephen Reid doubled in Chase Bessard to make it a seven-run game.

The doubleheader was induced by a July 7 rainout between the teams at Battle Creek’s C.O. Brown Stadium. With the Woodchucks on the road for that scheduled game, Wisconsin was designated as the road team in the makeup contest Thursday night.

Top Performers

Starting pitcher Dominic Murgo tossed four and two-thirds innings. He struck out two Bombers while allowing a pair of earned runs. Murgo was the winning pitcher.

JD Schultz had two scoreless innings, striking out three.

Simmons went 2-3 with a walk, two runs, a home run and stolen base.

Bessard was 2-4 with a run and RBI.

Long went 2-3 with a double, two runs and two RBI.

Next Up

The Woodchucks see the Bombers again Friday night for the series finale. First pitch is 6:35 p.m. Spend your Friday night at the ballpark and enjoy post-game fireworks presented by Wisconsin Chevy Dealers.

For tickets, call us at 715.845.5055, stop by our front office, or visit woodchucks.com.

###

The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 27-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.