'Chucks lumber breaks through, top Loggers 6-4
June 11, 2011 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wausau Woodchucks News Release
WAUSAU-June 11, 2011-The Wisconsin Woodchucks took game one of their three-game set with La Crosse Saturday night, 6-4, snapping the Loggers' three-game winning streak, and notching their second consecutive victory.
Woodchucks' greenhorn Nick Greene took the win, improving the 'Chucks to 4-6, while Loggers' reliever Trevor Teykl took the loss, moving La Crosse to 5-6.
The visiting Loggers started the game with a leadoff homer, as Trent Copeland took a 3-2 pitch from 'Chucks starter Tyler Nurdin just over the fence in left-center field, giving the Loggers and early lead.
Nurdin would recover, retiring six straight batters, before allowing the Loggers to strike again and post three runs in the third inning. Juliene Jones and Kyle Mossbarge would hit consecutive singles to start the inning, where they'd be followed by a Trent Copeland walk, and a two-RBI double by Corey LaVier - before a run-scoring Thomas McCarthy groundout would make the score 4-0, Loggers.
As the 'Chucks gave up an early lead at home, it looked like their Athletic Park struggles would continue. However, the 'Chucks arms would tighten up, and their lumber would finally break though on a team .182 batting average with runners in scoring position.
Working against Loggers' starter Jake Stassi - the younger brother of former Woodchuck Brock Stassi - Merrill native Alex Grunenwald would start the third inning with a single, as he'd move to third on a groundout and a subsequent Kyle Secciani single, before scoring on an Austin Coleman hit.
The 'Chucks would continue to chip away on the now 4-1 lead in the fourth inning, as Carlos Escobar Jr. lead off with a booming double off the right-field fence, before coming home on a two-out Alex Grunenwald single - his second of the night - to make the score 4-2, Loggers.
As Nurdin would settle in on the mound and work scoreless through the fourth and fifth, the 'Chucks would tie up the game in the fifth, as Carlos Escobar Jr. would hit his second double of the night to score Garrett Yrigoyen and Austin Coleman, who reached earlier on a single and a Juliene Jones fielding error.
Tied up 4-4, Woodchucks newcomer Nick Greene would replace Nurdin on the mound and come out strong, allowing only one base runner in his first two innings of work.
As Greene was working through his first Northwoods League appearance, the 'Chucks would score two off of Loggers' reliever Trevor Teykl, as Kyle Secciani led off the inning with a single - moving over to second on Garrett Yriogyen sacrifice - and scoring on an Austin Coleman double.
With one down and one on, Shain Stoner would reach on error, brining up Carlos Escobar Jr., who would hit his third consecutive double- making the score 6-4, 'Chucks.
Greene was brilliant in his Woodchucks debut, going four strong innings - allowing a mere two hits and one walk - while striking out four, and taking the win.
The Woodchucks - who came in batting only .227 on the season - manufactured six runs off of 11 hits and two La Crosse fielding errors.
While both Loggers' errors led to Woodchucks runs, the 'Chucks' defense looked sharp, making few fielding blunders and committing no errors - after committing several errors and playing out of sync during the last home stand, using a similar defensive lineup.
They'll do it again Sunday with a 5:05 matinee, as Jordan Luvisi takes on Brando Tessar, on Kids Eat Free Night at Athletic Park.
Northwoods League Stories from June 11, 2011
- Bombers outlast Mallards in back-and-forth battle - Madison Mallards
- Stingers Win 2 -1 - Willmar Stingers
- 'Frogs Drop Another Close One on the Road - Green Bay Rockers
- Lunkers get away from MoonDogss - Mankato MoonDogs
- 'Chucks lumber breaks through, top Loggers 6-4 - Wausau Woodchucks
- Stingers Edge Honkers 2-1 - Rochester Honkers
- Lunkers move into first place with 6-4 win over Mankato - Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers
- Early First-Place Battle as Mallards Face Bombers in Michigan - Madison Mallards
- Koch's Grand Slam Aids Honkers in Sweep - Rochester Honkers
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