Woodchucks’ first baseman Jake Scudder’s third inning grand slam proved to be the game-winning hit in Sunday’s doubleheader finale, as the Chucks completed the twinbill sweep of the Kenosha Kingfish, winning 4-3 in game two Sunday afternoon at Simmons Field.
In a scoreless tie in the third inning, Scudder belted a 3-1 fastball out of the right hand of Kingfish (3-3) hurler Steven Klimek to give the Chucks (4-2) a 4-0 advantage with one swing of the bat.
Catcher Jack Klages led off the frame with a walk, and with two outs, designated hitter Brendon Hayden was hit by a pitch before third baseman Paul DeJong, the hero in game one with a grand slam of his own, legged out an infield single to keep the frame alive. That set the stage for Scudder’s heroics.
On the mound, Wisconsin’s starting pitcher and Arkansas product Alex Phillips was very effective and pitch-efficient throughout his start. Phillips retired the first 13 Kingfish hitters he faced before Kenosha designated hitter Steven Sensley laced a one-out single to right field in the fifth inning. Phillips got out of that frame unscathed, but ended up surrendering three runs to the Kingfish in the sixth inning, who then cut the lead to 4-3.
However, Phillips was credited with the victory, improving to 2-1 on the season, when Lee’s Summit, Ks., native Max Ising fired a perfect seventh inning, notching his sixth save of the season in the process. The loss went to Klimek, who fell to 0-2.
Five different Chucks tallied single hits in game two, but none bigger than Scudder’s round-tripper, his third of the season.
The Woodchucks are back in action Monday night, as they take on Kenosha in another doubleheader at Simmons Field. First pitch for game one is slated for 5:05 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, visit woodchucks.com.
