Wausau Woodchucks double up Wisconsin Rapids, move to 13-3 in second half

For Wausau Pilot & Review

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Wausau Woodchucks jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 6-3 win over the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters in a Northwoods League baseball game Thursday night at Witter Field.

The Chucks got things started early with two runs in the second inning. Vance Sheahan (South Carolina Upstate) singled and Austin Dearing (Florida International) followed it up with his first home run of the year, an opposite field blast to left.

Wausau had five hits and scored three more runs in the third. Bryce Hubbard (Northwest Florida St. College) had two RBI and Sheahan had one. Sheahan and Dearing each scored their second run as the Chucks went up 5-0.

Caleb White started on the mound for Wausau and pitched scoreless ball through the first four innings. He only allowed three hits and one walk, while striking out four. He found trouble in the fifth and Davis Morrissey (Eastern Florida St. College) came in to escape the inning. The middle infield turned a double play, and the Chucks kept the Rafters scoreless.

Morrissey stayed in and continued his stellar pitching. He pitched the sixth and seventh, holding the Rafters scoreless and only allowed two hits. He struck out two batters to escape the seventh and keep Wausau’s lead at 5-0.

Morrissey allowed the first two to reach in the eighth and was pulled for Brayden Marks (Bradley). In a tough situation, Marks gave up three runs, two of which were credited to Morrissey. Bryce Carter (Eastern Florida St. College) came in and recorded the last out. The Rafters broke the shutout and the Chucks led 5-3 heading to the ninth.

The Chucks add a huge insurance run in the ninth as Max Galvin knocked home pinch runner Christian Smith-Johnson (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) on a bases loaded fielder’s choice. Carter finished off Wisconsin Rapids to end the game.

The Chucks (39-11, 13-3 second half) return home for three-straight before the All-Star break starting Friday at 6:35 p.m. to finish their home-and-home series against Wisconsin Rapids.