{"id":21032,"date":"2026-08-01T22:32:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T03:32:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/wausau-woodchucks\/?p=21032"},"modified":"2026-08-01T22:32:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T03:32:11","slug":"woodchucks-secure-massive-win-in-playoff-push-against-lakeshore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/wausau-woodchucks\/2026\/08\/01\/woodchucks-secure-massive-win-in-playoff-push-against-lakeshore\/","title":{"rendered":"Woodchucks Secure Massive Win In Playoff Push Against Lakeshore"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHUCKS TAKE FIRST CONTEST IN MASSIVE TWO-GAME SET, BECOME THIRD NORTHWOODS LEAGUE TEAM IN 2026 TO WIN 40 GAMES.<\/strong><\/p>\n

WAUSAU, WI- Coming into this weekend\u2019s two-game series against the Great Lakes West leader in Lakeshore, Wausau had one mission, to sweep the Chinooks, and set up a big finish in the 2026 playoff race. Part one of that job was completed on Saturday night, when Wausau took down Lakeshore, 6-2, at Athletic Park, to move 1.5 games back of the Chinooks in the playoff race.<\/p>\n

Keagen Jirschele (South Dakota State) went 2-3 and had the defining swing, a second-inning go-ahead grand slam that gave the Woodchucks the lead for good. Jirschele finished the game with five total RBIs.<\/p>\n

Brett Foss (Arkansas State) delivered another standout start, allowing just two unearned runs in 6.2 total innings of work. The right-hander struck out seven and allowed just five hits on 104 total pitches, earning his third win of the summer in the process. Bryce Carter (VCU) threw 1.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen, and Pete Jezerinac (Kennesaw State) wrapped it up with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two in the process.<\/p>\n

THE HIGHLIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wausau started the critical matchup on the back foot. In the top of the first, a Woodchuck error led to two unearned runs crossing the plate for Lakeshore. However, Wausau was gifted a run back in the bottom of the second inning, when a ball put in play by Ryan Chase (Santa Fe CC\/Kansas) forced a Lakeshore error, and scored Keagen Jirschele as an unearned run.<\/p>\n

In the second inning, Wausau built an opportunity and cashed in with grand style. Caleb Karll (Montevallo) and Bryce Hubbard (Oregon State) each took walks, and after an infield single by Joey McLaughlin (Arkansas State) moved the runners, the bases were loaded for Keagen Jirschele. On a 1-1 pitch, Jirschele shot a breaking ball just over the left field fence, a grand slam to give Wausau a 5-2 lead.<\/p>\n

After that, only one run crossed the plate in the game, and that was thanks to Jirschele. In the sixth, Keagen mashed a two-out RBI double into left-center field, scoring Sawyer Tolk (Kansas City Kansas CC\/Dayton) and making the score 6-2, where it remained. After the first inning, Lakeshore had four runners make it into scoring position, but none crossed the plate.<\/p>\n

NOTES AND NUMBERS<\/strong><\/p>\n