WAUSAU NOW IN POTENTIAL MUST-WIN SCENARIO FOLLOWING DEFEAT ON THE ROAD TO KINGFISH

KENOSHA, WI- Wednesday night’s result at Simmons Field was one of the most bitter pills to swallow for the Woodchucks in the 2026 season, as they lost critical ground in the Great Lakes West playoff race following a 8-3 defeat to the Kenosha Kingfish.

Joey McLaughlin (Arkansas State) went 1-3 and finished with a two-run home run, the Woodchucks’ lone hit of the evening. Both Malachi Ross (Lawrence/Transfer Portal) and Davis Winters (University of Northwestern MN) delivered valiant efforts as the lone two Wausau pitchers on the night, with Ross striking out seven hitters in three innings of work, and Winters delivering five strong innings in relief, on 88 total pitches.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

In the top of the second, Wausau took the lead when Joey McLaughlin hit his second home run of the season, an opposite field two-run shot that made it 2-0. Wausau held that lead until the third inning, when Kenosha’s offense took command and scored four runs to take the lead for good.

The Kingfish would not strike again until the sixth inning, where they scored three more runs to break open the game, and take a five run advantage. Then, Kenosha added insurance with one run in the eighth to make it 8-2.

Wausau, however, battled until the final pitch. In the ninth, the Woodchucks found themselves down to their final strike on three separate occasions, and they found a way to put pressure on the hosts. Three walks loaded the bases, and Joey McLaughlin earned his third RBI of the game with a bases-loaded walk to cut the lead to five. The tying run then made it to the on-deck circle, but a strikeout of the next hitter ultimately meant the last-second rally came to a close.

NOTES AND NUMBERS

• Peyton Firgens (McClennan CC/Mississippi State) extended his on-base streak to 28 games, the longest of any Wausau player this sumer. The infielder has reached base in every game he’s played in with the Woodchucks.
• Joey McLaughlin became the 14th different player this summer to hit multiple home runs this season, and the three RBIs were a new single-game season high for the freshman.
• Davis Winters became the third Central Wisconsin native to appear for the Woodchucks this summer, joining Sam Nitzke (UT-Tyler/Transfer Portal) and Keagen Jirschele (South Dakota State).
• Tonight’s defeat was only the sixth time this summer that the Woodchucks dropped a contest by five runs or more.

WHAT’S NEXT

Wausau falls to 42-21, and 21-12 in the second half. The Woodchucks also did not get the help they were looking for elsewhere, as the Lakeshore Chinooks won tonight to extend their lead atop the Great Lakes West Division to 1.5 games, with both teams still with three games to play in the 2026 regular season. Now, the Woodchucks must win at least two of their final games, and also need Lakeshore to lose at least two of its last three games, if they want to clinch a playoff spot for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

If Lakeshore wins tomorrow against Madison, that makes Wausau’s final road game of the regular season against the Kenosha Kingfish a must-win game to keep its playoff hopes alive. First pitch from Simmons Field is set for 6:35 p.m.

Wausau has just two home games remaining in the 2026 regular season, both against the Minnesota Mud Puppies, the lone team Wausau has yet to face this summer. The first game of the final series comes Friday, August 7, with first pitch at 6:35 p.m. It’s one of the biggest nights of the summer at Athletic Park, highlighted by the Summer Hits Post Game Firework Show, the last firework show of the year! Come celebrate the sounds of the summer, presented by Sanford Health Marshfield Clinic! Also, it’s “Strike Out Hunger Night” also presented by Sanford Health Marshfield Clinic, as fans can help us Strike Out Hunger with a community driven food drive, and stay for a phenomenal firework show. Finally, the DC Everest Band has a fundraiser night! Fans can purchase tickets to the final two home games of the 2026 season online at woodchucks.com.