Woodchuck Bats Catch Fire in Home Opener
June 2, 2021 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wausau Woodchucks News Release
WAUSAU, WI - The Wisconsin Woodchuck bats got hot midway through their home opener Tuesday against the Wisconsin Rapids Rapids. Seeking two-game, season-opening series sweep over their neighbors from Wood County, the offense came early and often for the Chucks in a 16-5 win.
Patience at the plate was also on display, with the Chucks drawing 19 walks at Athletic Park, including six in the eighth inning. The Woodchucks batted over .400 Tuesday night, with nine hits and two extra base hits.
After briefly falling behind a run in the top of the third inning, Wisconsin scored four runs in the home half of the third, three in the fourth, one in the fifth, four in the seventh and four in the eighth.
Starting pitcher Nate Madej allowed four runs in four innings pitched. Osvaldo Mendez, DJ Schultz and Jace Baumann came out of the bullpen and surrendered just one combined run in the eighth, protecting the Woodchuck batters' robust evening at the plate.
Top Performers
Kevin Kilpatrick: Double, a triple, a walk and two RBIs in five plate appearances. He also had an outfield assist to third base in the fifth inning to preserve a budding Woodchucks lead.
Norris McClure: 2-2 with two walks and two hits.
Tyler Kehoe: 2-3, with three walks and an RBI.
JD Schultz: Three innings pitched, one hit, no runs, three walks and six strikeouts.
Next Up
The Woodchucks continue their season opening homestead Wednesday with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch against the Madison Mallards at Athletic Park. It will also be White Claw Wednesday at the ballpark, with the first 250 fans to purchase a White Claw from our concession stands getting a White Claw Koozie courtesy of Lee Beverage.
Northwoods League Stories from June 2, 2021
- Early Pitching Struggles Lead to Another Loss - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Booyah Outhit Rafters in Loss - Green Bay Rockers
- Stingers Nail Down Second Straight Win - Willmar Stingers
- Rox Fall in Season Opener, Look to Bounce Back Tomorrow - St. Cloud Rox
- Trammell's Walkoff Home Run Gives Woodchucks 5-3 Win Against Madison - Wausau Woodchucks
- Pit Spitters Rock the Rivets - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Booyah Look to Get on the Right Track - Green Bay Rockers
- Mallards Take First Road Trip, Open Series with Woodchucks - Madison Mallards
- Dock Spiders Set to Host Lakeshore - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Northwoods League Launches 'NWL Lucky 7' Powered by Chalkline - Northwoods
- Chinooks Offense Heats up to Defeat Madison, 11-3 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Kingfish Offense Comes Alive in the Home and Home Finale - Kenosha Kingfish
- Honkers Walk off as Winners, Move to 2-0 in 2021 - Rochester Honkers
- Rafters Walk 19 and Give up 16 Runs to Woodchucks in Road Loss - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Fondy Dominates Green Bay on the Road - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Booyah Fall to 0-2 on the Season - Green Bay Rockers
- Express Fall in Extras - Eau Claire Express
- Kingfish Clobber Rivets in Home Opener - Rockford Rivets
- MoonDogs Cut Down Loggers in Double-Digit Win - Mankato MoonDogs
- Patience at the Plate Pays Dividends as Growlers Start Strong - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Woodchuck Bats Catch Fire in Home Opener - Wausau Woodchucks
- Larks Split Series vs Stingers - Bismarck Larks
- Stingers Get Bounce Back Win Behind Watson's Stellar Start - Willmar Stingers
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