For Wausau Pilot & Review
WAUSAU – After falling in Game 1 of the day-night doubleheader with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, ending their nine-game winning streak, the Wausau Woodchucks baseball team battled from behind to beat Rapids 6-3 in the nightcap and improve to 20-4 in the Northwoods League this season.
Wisconsin Rapids rolled to a 15-3 win in the first game of the twinbill, keeping Wausau from tying a franchise record with what would have been its 10th win in a row.
Wisconsin Rapids opened the second game with three runs on three singles.
The Woodchucks were able to score one home in the bottom of the first on a bases-loaded walk to Bryce Hubbard (Georgia).
The Chucks would find two more runs in the third and fifth innings, to tie the ball game. In the third it was Trey Gambill who smashed his first home run as Woodchuck to open the inning. Logan Kreske (Wichita St.) had a sacrifice fly in the fifth to tie the game.
While Wausau’s hitters did well at the plate, pitcher Carsen Plumadore (Georgia Southwestern St.) kept the Rafters scoreless from the fourth to the seventh, allowing just two batters to reach. Heading to the bottom half of seven, it remained tied at 3-3.
The Chucks pulled ahead in the eighth when Bryce Hubbard scored on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded to give Wausau its first lead of the day. Plumadore would hand the ball off to Cutter Clawson (BYU) for the bottom of the eighth.
After retiring all three batters in the eighth that saw two Clawson strikeouts, the Chucks added late-game insurance runs. It was 16 straight balls from the Rafters pitching that loaded the bases and sent Isaac Webb (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) home. Jonah St. Antione would cross home on another walk, giving the Chucks a 6-3 lead.
Clawson returned for a second inning of work and found trouble with a leadoff walk, but struck out three straight batters to earn his first save of the season. The win goes to Plumadore, who moves to 3-0.
In the first game of the day Thursday afternoon, Grant Siegel (Central Florida) got the start for the Chucks, his fourth start overall. He struck out four across five innings and walked no batters. He held the Rafters scoreless in two of his five innings and allowed four runs.
Johnny Amonica (Keiser University) made his third pitching appearance for the Chucks, coming in as reliever in the top of the eighth. He struck out two to earn a shutout inning.
Trey Gambill (Oklahoma) made his NWL debut today for the Woodchucks, and in his first at-bat recorded a double. Bryce Hubbard (Georgia) also made his debut for the Chucks, and his first hit was a two-run home run to get the Woodchucks to three runs. Daniel Harden earned his first home run as well, a solo shot in the ninth, but it was not nearly enough as Wisconsin Rapids was hot at the plate.
Drew Berkland shined on defense again today for Wausau with two athletic plays, one of which was a diving grab into the wall in foul territory.
The Woodchucks will finish the homestand Friday at 6:35 p.m. as they take on the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders for the first time since June 6. It is Wizardry Night at Athletic Park where fans can enjoy a mystical performance by the players, followed by a magical firework show following the game.
