Rivets Fall 7-4 to the Woodchucks
June 17, 2018 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rockford Rivets News Release
Wausau, Wis. - The Rockford Rivets (11-8) couldn't take down the Wisconsin Woodchucks (6-13) on Saturday night at Athletic Park, as the Rivets lost by a score of 7-4. The Woodchucks found the big bats when they needed them and were able to win by three despite having one less hit than the Rivets.
It was a battle between two 2017 Northwoods league all-stars on the mound, as Cole Bellair from Rockford and Orsen Josephina for Wisconsin got the starts for their respective teams. Josephina cracked first as Jacob Vander Wal drove in Wyatt Mascarella in the top half of the second to put the Rivets up one.
The Woodchucks didn't take long to respond as they put one run across in the bottom of the second, and then belted a two-run homerun to center field to give themselves the advantage by a score of 3-1. Bellair was ultimately credited with the loss, his first of the season. Rivets' manager Brian Smith talked about Bellair's performance after the game.
"Cole did a good job battling," Smith said, "He had very little command with his fastball tonight, so he really had to pitch backwards all night."
Bellair lasted five innings, allowing four hits, striking out five, and only allowing one earned run.
The Woodchucks went into their bullpen in the seventh and the Rivets pounced on the new pitcher Austin Elliot. Brock Mathis and Vander Wal both brought in runs with no outs, Cade Bunnell brought in a run with two outs, but three Rivets were left stranded when Wyatt Mascarella lined out to the Woodchucks' shortstop to end the inning.
Bunnell and Parker Bates each had multiple hits for Rockford. Tanner Propst also came on in relief for the Rivets, and in one and two-thirds innings of works, he did not allow a hit or an earned run and struck out three.
The Rivets look to split the series with the Woodchucks tomorrow afternoon. First pitch for that one is scheduled for 3:05 PM.
Northwoods League Stories from June 17, 2018
- Willmar Falls to Mankato in Rain Shortened Affair - Willmar Stingers
- Runs Rain Down for Rivets in 10-8 Victory - Rockford Rivets
- Woodchucks Extra Inning Thriller Falls Short to Rivets - Wausau Woodchucks
- Rox Comeback Attempt Comes up Short, Falls to Waterloo - St. Cloud Rox
- Huskies Winning Streak Ends in Eau Claire - Duluth Huskies
- Rafters Sweep the Kingfish over Father's Day Weekend - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Bullfrogs Blanked by Dock Spiders in Series Finale - Green Bay Rockers
- Bucks Defeat Rox, 9-6 - Waterloo Bucks
- Dock Spiders Shutout Bullfrogs for Second Straight Game - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Honkers Split Series with the Border Cats - Rochester Honkers
- Rivets Fall 7-4 to the Woodchucks - Rockford Rivets
- Rafters Look to Hook a Sweep of Kenosha - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Frogs Fall to Dock Spiders on Walk-Off Single in Extra Innings - Green Bay Rockers
- Larks Lose Slugfest 9-6 to Loggers - Bismarck Larks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Rockford Rivets Stories
- Rivets Walked-off by Battle Jacks, Losing Streak Reaches Four
- Late Comeback Effort Falls Short, Rivets Swept by Pit Spitters
- Rivets Allow 12 Unanswered Runs, Fall to Pit Spitters
- Control Issues Haunt Rivets in Loss to Mallards
- Blalock's Monster Night Leads Rivets to Dominant Victory over Mallards
