Woodchucks Erase Deficit, End Rafter Streak
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.
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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]
