Wisconsin Woodchucks
MADISON, WI (WSAU) – In a slugfest that lasted nearly four hours, the Woodchucks (31-20) were a few clutch hits better than the Madison Mallards (25-25) in a 12-10 victory Saturday night.
Among the offensive prowess shown by both teams, Kevin Kilpatrick stood out. The all-star outfielder earned Northwoods League Player of the Night honors after a 5-for-5 night at the plate. He added a solo shot, his fifth of the season, which got the Woodchucks on the board in the top of the first.
The Mallards would score a total of five early runs against starter Tyler Hoeft, but a five-run third inning put the Woodchucks in front for good.
Ben McCabe’s two-run double gave the Woodchucks the lead before Ryan Sepede added an RBI single to add on one more in the inning.
From there, a game of cat and mouse ensued. The Mallards never led after the third inning, but they stranded the tying run on the basepaths a total of three times on the evening.
Louie Albrecht, a mid-game substitution, contributed an RBI single in the top of the sixth to make the score 8-6.
The Woodchucks kept adding on in the top of the seventh as Kilpatrick and Burke each registered RBI singles, stretching the lead to a game-high 11-7.
After the Mallards scored three in the seventh, they threatened the lead with the bases loaded and none out. But after getting a clutch strikeout, reliever Shane Telfer induced a double-play grounder to keep the one-run lead intact. He would later earn the win.
One inning later, the Mallards had the tying run at third with only one out. Geo Camfield came in from the bullpen to strike out back-to-back Mallards and thwart the rally.
Kilpatrick’s fifth and final hit gave the Chucks an insurance run in the top of the ninth. He finished with three RBIs and five runs, only a triple shy of what would have been the third cycle in Woodchucks history.
Camfield earned his fourth save of the season, retiring all five batters he faced. He now ties Telfer for the team lead.
The Woodchucks will conclude their series in Madison with a 1:05 p.m. game Sunday before traveling to Green Bay for a two-game series beginning Monday at 6:35 p.m. They will play the Booyah a total of five consecutive games over five days, including a double-header at Athletic Park at 5:05 p.m. Thursday.
Other scores from Saturday in the Northwoods League:
Battle Creek 3, Wisconsin Rapids 2
Willmar 11, Duluth 4
Kokomo 7, Kalamazoo 6
St. Cloud 6, Mankato 2
Kenosha 10, Green Bay 6
Rochester 7, Minnesota 1
Traverse City 9, Rockford 4
Lakeshore 8, Fond du Lac 5
Waterloo 2, Bismarck 0
Eau Claire 3, La Crosse 2
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