Madison, WI – The Wausau Woodchucks defeated the Madison Mallards 5-1 on Sunday night at Warner Park to take a 1-0 lead in the Sub-Divisional Postseason series.
Maddux Frese (Southeastern Community College) was outstanding on the mound for Madison in the first two innings, but the Woodchucks broke through with a three-run home run by Jake Berkland (Minnesota State – Mankato) in the third inning to give Wausau a 3-0 lead.
The Mallards got a run back in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Korbyn Dickerson (Louisville) to bring home Davis Hamilton (North Dakota State) to make the score 3-1. However, the Woodchucks answered with two more runs in the fifth inning to make the score 5-1.
Caleb White (Georgia State) dominated as the Woodchucks’ reliever, throwing four scoreless innings and striking out six batters. He capped the win by getting three straight strikeouts in the ninth inning to help the Woodchucks take the series lead.
Hamilton and Dawson Hokuf (Cincinnati) each had two hits in the game, while Frankie Carney hit a double and stole a base. Madison’s bullpen managed a total of five scoreless innings, with Eamonn Mulhern (Madison College), Carson Fluno (Louisiana – Lafayette) and Liam McKillop (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville) all getting success on the mound.
The Woodchucks’ starting pitcher, Travis Lutz (Bradley), threw five brilliant innings to secure the win. Maddux Frese (Southeastern Community College) was blamed for the Mallards’ loss.
The Mallards and Woodchucks will face off for the second game Monday night in Wausau. Madison needs a win to keep its season alive. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
