WAUSAU\u2019S LATE RALLY FALLS SHORT IN ONLY SIXTH HOME LOSS OF THE SUMMER<\/b><\/p>\n
WAUSAU, WI- The Wausau Woodchucks pulled off a remarkable comeback to walk-off the Eau Claire Express on Saturday, but could not follow it up on Sunday afternoon, as they were beaten at Athletic Park 8-5 by the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.<\/p>\n
Jackson Petsche (Southeastern CC\/LSU-New Orleans) went 2-4 and hit a solo home run in the defeat. Bradon Durfee (Pasco-Hernando State\/Kansas) reached base three times, twice on hit by pitches, and also had a hit and scored a run.<\/p>\n
On the mound Addison Tevz (Madison CC) delivered his best performance of the summer. The reliever tossed 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, and not walking a batter. That effort helped Wausau keep the game close in its late comeback attempt.<\/p>\n
THE HIGHLIGHTS<\/b><\/p>\n
Wisconsin Rapids took the lead with a run in the top half of the first, but Wausau countered with a run in the second, as Sawyer Tolk (Kansas City Kansas CC\/Dayton) drove Bradon Durfee in with an RBI sacrifice fly. Then, in the fourth, the Rafters scored three runs, one unearned to take a 4-1 lead, and Wausau got a run back in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a home run by Jackson Petsche.<\/p>\n
However, the next four runs were crucial and belonged to the Rafters. Wisconsin Rapids plated a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to suddenly take an 8-2 lead, putting Wausau in a big hole late. The Woodchucks made it 8-3 in the bottom of the sixth when Jackson Petsche sacrificed himself to be caught stealing in between first and second to bring in Lane Walton (Arkansas State) on a delayed steal from third.<\/p>\n
The Woodchucks could not come any closer until the eighth, when they made a late rally that ignited the Athletic Park crowd. With two outs, four straight Wausau hitters reached base, with Peyton Firgens (McClennan CC\/Mississippi State) earning an RBI infield hit, and Sawyer Tolk registering a bases loaded hit-by-pitch to earn his second RBI of the game. Wausau brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the frame, but that hitter grounded out, ending the rally. The Woodchucks also got a runner on base in the ninth, but failed to bring the tying run to the plate.<\/p>\n
NOTES AND NUMBERS<\/b><\/p>\n WHAT\u2019S NEXT<\/b><\/p>\n Wausau drops to 37-17 on the summer, and move to 16-8 in the second half. The Woodchucks now lose control of its own destiny in the Great Lakes West playoff race, now a half game behind Lakeshore, with the Chinooks\u2019 afternoon game against Richmond yet to be finished at the time of this writing. If the Chinooks lose, Wausau will have first place in the division at the end of the night. The Woodchucks will attempt to split the two-game series with the Rafters when they travel to Wisconsin Rapids to face them tomorrow at Witter Field, with first pitch slated for 6:35 p.m. The road game will be Wausau\u2019s first since Sunday, July 19.<\/p>\n\n