
Woodchucks Rally for Road Win
June 16, 2022 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wausau Woodchucks News Release
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI - Facing a four-run deficit in the seventh inning, the Wausau Woodchucks (8-9) rallied to defeat the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (14-2) in game one of a doubleheader Thursday afternoon.
Cal Hejza (Illinois) tied the game with a grand slam to left field. The sophomore shortstop tallied five RBIs in total, leading the charge for a Woodchuck offense that was shut out yesterday.
The Rafters saw their franchise-record 14-game win streak come to an end and suffered their first loss since opening day. After a scoreless first four innings of pitching by Ernie Lugo (Salt Lake CC), the Rafters surged to a 5-1 lead with a five-run fifth inning.
They had chances to add on in the sixth, mounting the beginning of a rally against Woodchuck reliever Michael Conte (Central Michigan). But skipper Corey Thompson called upon Trevor Ernt (San Jose State), who escaped the jam and stranded the runners.
After tying the game in the seventh, the Woodchucks handed the keys over to lefty Andrew Armstrong (Florida State). The lefty recorded the final eight outs for Wausau, eventually securing a victory in his debut. He struck out three Rafters, including two to strand an inherited runner in the seventh.
In the eighth, Mark Shallenberger (Evansville) and McGwire Holbrook (West Virginia) led off with base-hits. Hunter Dorraugh (San Jose State) bunted the runners into scoring position, setting up Ryan Sepede (BYU) to deliver the go-ahead sacrifice fly.
The one-run lead was all Armstrong needed, allowing just one hit the rest of the way. A leaping catch by Amani Larry (New Orleans) put the finishing touches on a 6-5 Woodchuck victory, their largest come-from-behind win of 2022 so far.
Up Next
Game two of the double-header will take place at 6:35 p.m. at Witter Field. The Woodchucks will travel back home tomorrow.
First pitch against the Traverse City Pit Spitters is set for 6:35 p.m. on Friday at Athletic Park. Join us for post-game fireworks presented by Fleet Farm! The team will take the field in specialty Wausau Woodchucks jerseys on Saturday to raise money for the Safe Kids program, presented by Aspirus.
Northwoods League Stories from June 16, 2022
- Rox Dominate Rochester to Earn Split of Doubleheader, Win 12th Game - St. Cloud Rox
- MoonDogs Split Doubleheader against Stingers at ISG Field - Mankato MoonDogs
- Rockers Split Double-Header vs. Chinooks - Green Bay Rockers
- Rafters Streak Comes to an End at 14, But New Winning Streak Begins at 1 - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Rafters' Streak Comes to an End at 14, But New Winning Streak Begins at 1 - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Mallards Trade Blowouts in Doubleheader - Madison Mallards
- Pitching Staff Shines as Battle Jacks Win Series in Rockford 3-1 - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Woodchucks Drop Game Two to Rafters - Wausau Woodchucks
- Huskies Fall Short in Game Two at Eau Claire - Duluth Huskies
- Carico's Blast Completes Honkers Improbable Comeback - Rochester Honkers
- La Crosse Topples Minnesota, 19-3 - La Crosse Loggers
- Chinooks Extend Winning Streak, Beat Rockers 17-11 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Huskies Fall to Express in Game 1 of Doubleheader - Duluth Huskies
- Rox Put up 11 Runs, Look to Bounce Back in Game Two against Rochester - St. Cloud Rox
- Woodchucks Rally for Road Win - Wausau Woodchucks
- Northwoods League Games Now Live for Wagering on DraftKings - Northwoods
- Rivets Split Day-Night Doubleheader with Battle Jacks - Rockford Rivets
- Griff O'Ferrall Named Northwoods League Player of the Night - June 15 - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Honkers Swept by Stingers - Rochester Honkers
- Mallards Swept After Game Called Due to Weather - Madison Mallards
- La Crosse Shuts out Waterloo, Wins 6-0 - La Crosse Loggers
- Stingers Complete Sweep against the Honkers - Willmar Stingers
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