Woodchucks Eke Past Rockers in Pitcher’s Duel
ASHWAUBENON, WI – More than two and a half hours into Saturday’s series finale in Ashwaubenon, the Wausau Woodchucks and Green Bay Rockers were right where they started.
But a ninth inning rally produced the game’s only run and helped the Woodchucks (3-3) slip past the Rockers (1-5) and earn their first series sweep of the season.
Jack Wenninger (Illinois) went toe to toe with Green Bay’s Justin Loer and neither starter surrendered a run.
Wenninger wriggled free of a bases-loaded jam in the third and completed four scoreless innings, tallying three strikeouts in his team debut.
He was relieved in the fifth inning by Carter Heninger (San Jose State), who thwarted Green Bay rallies the rest of the way. The hard-throwing righty struck out ten Rocker hitters, saving his best pitches for big moments to escape jams.
In total, Green Bay left nine men on base Saturday evening, going 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
While the Woodchucks opportunities were few and far between, they pounced when one presented itself in the ninth inning. Tre Hondras (John A. Logan) slapped a one-out base hit, extending his on-base streak to a perfect six for six. Lenny Ashby (New Mexico State) snuck a grounder down the third base line, setting up a one-out scoring opportunity.
Camden Janik (Illinois) drove in Hondras with a groundout to short, proving to be the difference in the contest.
Heninger closed the door in the bottom of the inning, stranding the tying run at second base. With the win, Wausau has prevailed 3 times in a row and improved to .500 at 3-3.
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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]
