Bombers Get to Josephina in the Ninth for Series Sweep of Woodchucks
Tim Hackett, Broadcasting Intern
Wausau, Wis.- Orsen Josephina was a perfect five-for-five in save situations before Monday night, when Battle Creek struck for three runs off of him in the ninth inning to lift the Bombers (10-4) to a 9-7 comeback victory over the Wisconsin Woodchucks (5-9) at Athletic Park.
After a rain delay of three hours, Chucks starter DJ Moreland was strong through his first four innings, throwing only 50 pitches and allowing two hits, but he ran into trouble in the fifth. Cale Hennemann walked with one out to kickstart a five-run inning for the Bombers, highlighted by a two-run bomb by red-hot JD Mundy.
The Chucks headed into the bottom of the fifth down by five. They left that half inning up one. Tristan Clarke and Stevie Mangrum both walked to put two men on, and Brylie Ware brought home Clarke with a single. Ivan Nunez brought home two with a single and Kyle Mrozinski brought home one with a double. Nunez came around to score on an error to improbably give the Woodchucks a 6-5 lead.
They then turned it over to the back half of a bullpen that had been so stellar this season. But all that would change. Nick Walker singled to start the eighth against Lenny Gwizdala, and a few wild pitches later, Walker crossed home plate to tie the score at seven. Wisconsin responded perfectly in the bottom half. Milton Rivera and Clarke both singled and executed the double steal to perfection to advance a base, and Rivera came home when catcher Aaron Antonini’s throw sailed into center field.
The Woodchucks once again had a one-run lead, and they turned things over to their closer. Josephina struck out the first man he faced, but the next three all reached, two via singles, and the next three all scored to give Battle Creek the two-run lead. Colton Bradley entered to pitch the bottom half, and worked around a two-out double by Nunez to clinch his first save of the year and the 9-7 Battle Creek win.
The Woodchucks will look to rebound Tuesday night as they take on the stumbling Fond du Lac Dock Spiders at Herr-Baker Field. Korey Rasure will make his first Wisconsin start at 6:35 PM. The Woodchucks will return home Wednesday night to open up a three-game homestand by taking on Fond du Lac at 6:35 PM at Athletic Park.
Tickets are on sale to all Wisconsin Woodchucks home games and the 2017 Northwoods League Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, presented by Ascension. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 715.845.5055 or by stopping by the Woodchucks front office during normal business hours.