For the second consecutive night, the Wisconsin Woodchucks fell to La Crosse, losing 3-2 in fifteen innings Wednesday night at Copeland Park.
In a well-played game that featured brilliant pitching across the board, the final blow came via a bases-loaded wild pitch from Woodchuck reliever Tim McElroy, scoring Logger third baseman Jerrod Bravo from third to give the Loggers (2-0) the 3-2 victory.
A day after the Woodchucks (0-2) pitching staff struggled, as seven pitchers combined to allow eleven free passes on Opening Day, the hurlers performed very well. Connor McFadden started on the bump, going four and one-third innings, allowing just one earned run on three hits while striking out four and walking four.
Zach Butler relieved McFadden, going two and two-thirds innings and allowing just one run on five hits. Robby Medel stole the show in relief of Butler, tossing six innings of shutout ball, including eight strikeouts. He was aided in the bottom of 11th, as Woodchuck center fielder Curtis Bussard gunned out the potential winning run at the plate on a base hit to center, which sent the game still tied at 2 into the 12th.
In relief of Medel, Austin Tribby fired a scoreless 14th before McElroy took over in the 15th.
Offensively, Bussard led the Woodchucks with three hits, while right fielder C.J. Chatham was the only other ‘Chuck with a multi-hit performance, tallying two on the night.
The Woodchucks are back in action on Thursday night in Wisconsin Rapids, as they will do battle with the Rafters. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 P.M.
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The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwood’s League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwood’s League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 115 Northwood’s League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwood’s League YouTube channel. For more information,
