Wausau, WIS – The Wisconsin Woodchucks and Thunder Bay Border Cats needed five hours and 14 innings to decide a winner Sunday night, and eventually the Border Cats pulled it out 13-9.
After losing 10-6 in extra innings Saturday, the Woodchucks trailed 1-0 early Sunday. Tyler Green hit a solo home run in the second inning to put Thunder Bay ahead.
Wisconsin quickly responded with four runs in the bottom of the second. Fishback doubled to start the frame, and Keenan Eaton walked to put runners at first and second for Alex Cordova.
Cordova’s first at-bat of the season was an eventful one. He lined a single to center field, scoring Mason Fishback. Alan Baldwin played the ball in center and threw to third base in an attempt to nail Eaton, but he airmailed it above the Chucks’ dugout. Eaton scored, and Cordova was awarded third base. The Border Cats elected at this point to play the game under protest.
Taylor Kohlwey batted next in the second inning and hit an RBI single, scoring Cordova. Ty Black then singled, and Jared Oliva walked. Yusuke Akitoshi plated the fourth run of the inning – scored by Kohlwey – with a single to make it 4-1.
The Border Cats got another solo home run, this one from Max Dutto, leading off in the third. However, the Chucks scored two runs in the sixth to go up 6-2. Jared Oliva doubled home Kohlwey in that frame to give Wisconsin their biggest lead of the day.
Thunder Bay answered in the seventh and eighth innings with one run and three runs, respectively, to tie the contest. Neither team could score in the ninth, so for back-to-back nights, the Chucks and Border Cats went to extra innings.
The Woodchucks had to score in the bottom of the tenth to stay alive because Mikael Mogues crossed home on a sacrifice fly from Max Dutto in the top of the frame. Wisconsin did match the Border Cats’ run with a run of their own. Ty Black doubled and then scored on a fielder’s choice from Akitoshi.
The next three innings were all scoreless. Wisconsin had their best chance to win it in the eleventh, when they loaded the bases with one out but were unable to cross any runs. Thunder Bay exploded for six runs in the top of the fourteenth, providing a tall order for Wisconsin in the bottom of the inning.
The Woodchucks started the fourteenth hot with back-to-back-to-back singles from Kohlwey, Black and Oliva. Akitoshi plated Kohlwey with a fielder’s choice, and Fishback brought Black home with a sacrifice fly. The rally was thwarted though as Troy Traxler flew out to end the ballgame.
Wisconsin used seven different pitchers in the extra-inning contest. Devin Skapura started and went six innings with two runs allowed and two hits allowed. His scoreless streak was snapped at 22 innings. Connor Kelly entered the game as it went to extras and through four and one third innings before he was pulled for Jake McMahon.
There were a total of 37 hits in the ballgame, 21 for Thunder Bay and 16 for Wisconsin, and the game lasted five hours and two minutes.
The Woodchucks hit the road tomorrow for two games against the Kenosha Kingfish followed by a doubleheader with the Green Bay Bullfrogs at Joannes Stadium Wednesday.
Tickets for all Woodchucks home games can be purchased online, at woodchucks.com, by calling the Front Office at 715.845.5055, or by stopping by the Front Office (300 3rd. St. Suite 305, Wausau WI 55403) anytime between 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday, or 9:00-4:00 p.m. on game days. The box office at Athletic Park (324 E. Wausau Ave, Wausau WI 55403) opens at 1:30 p.m. on game days. The Woodchucks are looking forward to a fun filled season at Athletic Park and we hope to see you there!
