Woodchuck Rally Falls Short Against Kokomo

The Chucks gave themselves a chance to win late. After Clayton Mehlbauer drove in Kevin Kilpatrick to close the deficit to a single run in the bottom of the ninth, Wisconsin got both the game-tying and game-winning runs in scoring position with two outs.

Wisconsin falls to 8-4 with the loss but remain atop the Great Lakes West division.

The Jackrabbits struck first with a pair of runs in the second inning, taking advantage of a bases loaded walk and single.

The Chucks got their first run on a fourth inning, two-out triple from Noah Fitzgerald in the first, scoring Bryson Hill from first base.

Kokomo made it 3-1 a frame later on a single to shallow left field.

Wisconsin’s bullpen pitched a shutout for the second consecutive night. Woodchuck relievers have not allowed a run in eight innings.

Top Performers

Starting pitcher Ryan Lobus struck out four batters in five innings pitched, allowing three runs.

Fitzgerald was 1-3 with a triple, an RBI and a sacrifice bunt.

Dante Chirico pitched three and a third shutout innings, allowing just one hit and walking nobody. He logged a strikeout in his appearance.

Next Up

The Woodchucks conclude their homestead with a Sunday matinee for Game 2 against Kokomo. The 1:05 p.m. matchup is Woody’s Reading Club Redemption Night #2. It will also feature Sunday Dinner Trig’s Family Four Pack – buy 4 reserved seats, get 4 hot dogs, & 4 bottles of soda for $44!

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 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.