FOUR RUNS IN GO-AHEAD EIGHTH MAKES DIFFERENCE IN WAUSAU’S FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN

ASHWAUBENON, WI- Going into Monday night’s game, the Green Bay Rockers had not lost a home game since the Fourth of July. That streak ended when the Wausau Woodchucks won a nerve-racking affair by the final score of 9-6 at Capital Credit Union Park.

Max Soliz Jr. (Kansas) had his best day of the summer at the plate, going 2-3 with a grand slam and six RBIs, with one run scored. Jackson Petsche (Southeastern CC/LSU-New Orleans) went 2-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored to support the offense.

In addition, there was timely pitching, most notably from Sam Nitzke (UT-Tyler/Transfer Portal) and Bryce Carter (VCU). Nitzke earned his first win of the summer with 3.1 strong innings in relief out of the bullpen, where he allowed just one run on one hit, and struck out three. Carter earned his first save of the summer when he recorded the final four outs, with three of those coming on strikeouts. Addison Tevz (Madison CC/Minnesota State-Mankato) also provided a worthy appearance, starting the game and surrendering just two runs in four innings, with five punchouts.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

The Woodchucks offense started the game in a loud way. In the top of the first, the first three Wausau hitters reached base. That set the table for Max Soliz Jr. to hit a grand slam, his team-leading seventh home run of the summer, over the wall in deep left field to give the Woodchucks an early cushion. Joey McLaughlin (Arkansas State) extended the lead later in the inning with an RBI ground rule double to make the score 5-0.

Green Bay got two runs back in the bottom of the second, and neither team would score again until the fifth inning. In that frame, the Rockers scored three runs to make up the ground and tie the game at 5-5.

The game stayed deadlocked until the eighth inning, where Wausau got two key hits to take the lead back. Jackson Petsche smacked another RBI ground double, with the ball bouncing over the left field wall, which scored two runs and gave the Woodchucks the lead for good. Then, Max Soliz Jr delivered a two-RBI single into right-center field to make the score 9-5.

Green Bay scored a run in the bottom of the eighth, but missed its chance to strike further. In that inning, with runners at second and third, Bryce Carter got out of the jam with a strikeout that sent the game to the ninth. The Wausau reliever would face the same situation in the final inning, and slammed the door shut again, with a strikeout to seal the win and the save.

NOTES AND NUMBERS

• Max Soliz Jr. registered his second six-RBI game of his illustrious Northwoods League career, and his first since June 1, 2024.
• Jackson Petsche has now delivered 19 RBIs in his last 10 games at the plate.
• With his first save of the summer, Bryce Carter became the fifth different Woodchuck pitcher to secure a save in the 2026 season.
• The Woodchucks broke the Rockers’ 13-game home win streak Monday night, and finished with three wins in 2026 at Capital Credit Union Park, more than any other team that faced the Rockers this summer.
• After registering the win, Sam Nitzke now has five total wins across his Northwoods League career.
• Wausau is now on a five-game win streak, its longest win streak of the second half, and the third different win streak of five or more games in 2026.

WHAT’S NEXT

Wausau improves to 42-19, and now has a 21-10 record in the second half. The Woodchucks remain a half game behind the Lakeshore Chinooks, who won tonight in Traverse City, for the second and final playoff spot in the Great Lakes West. Wausau’s magic number now drops to six, still in need of a Lakeshore loss to reclaim its own destiny in the playoff race. If the Woodchucks make it to the playoffs, they will face the Madison Mallards in a best-of-three divisional series, beginning Sunday in Madison.

The Woodchucks now return home tomorrow, Tuesday, August 4, to wrap up the critical two-game series against the Green Bay Rockers. If the Woodchucks win, they eliminate the defending Northwoods League champions from playoff contention. First pitch of that contest is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. It’s another Bang for Your Buck Night, with tickets available that include a $2.00 hot dog, a $2.00 tap soda and $4.00 16oz Domestic Drafts. In addition, Athens Youth Baseball has a fundraiser night! Tickets for the final three Woodchucks home games of the 2026 regular season are available for purchase online at woodchucks.com