Woodchucks Earn Series Split with Growlers
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Andrew Armstrong worked five shutout innings and Mark Shallenberger drove in four runs in a 7-2 victory for the Wausau Woodchucks in Kalamazoo Monday night.
The Woodchucks improved to 17-19 this season, ending their first half with a series-splitting win to snap a three-game slide.
Armstrong (Florida State) turned in his best outing of the summer. The lefty commanded his fastball and slider consistently, striking out a season-high six and holding the league’s best offense scoreless through five.
Shallenberger (Evansville) drove in what turned out to be the game-winning runs in the third inning. First, a sacrifice fly by Brent Widder (Evansville) put the Chucks in front 1-0 as Ryan Sepede (BYU) scored. Shallenberger then drove in both Collin Reuter (BYU) and Amani Larry (Mississippi State) with a two-RBI base hit.
Brock Watkins (BYU) knocked in Hunter Dorraugh (San Jose State), and in a span of two-at bats the Chucks padded their lead to 4-0.
The Growlers threatened in the bottom of the fifth but Armstrong induced an inning-ending double play. Kalamazoo out-hit Wausau 8 to 6 in the game, but the Chucks turned three twin-killers to help escape jams.
Wausau added to their lead in the seventh when Shallenberger’s second hit drove in Widder and Dorraugh. Dorraugh reached base three times in the win, scoring twice. Widder extended his on-base streak to 20 games after drawing a walk in the seventh.
The Growlers scored two runs off reliever Cade Denton (Oral Roberts) who tossed three innings in middle relief. But that was all they could muster as Carter Heninger (San Jose State) threw a 1-2-3 ninth. Heninger tallied strikeout number 29, adding to his team-lead and maintaining a 0.00 ERA in the first half.
It was the first time that Kalamazoo was held to less than 5 runs since June 14, snapping a 20-game streak for the Great Lakes East’s first half champs. They’ll make a return trip to Wausau this weekend.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
