Chucks get big road win over first place Express - WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, Sports

EAU CLAIRE (PRESS RELEASE)-  With the rest of the league inactive, the Wisconsin Woodchucks (17-10, 35-27) took advantage of a big opportunity and gained half a game on all their competitors with a 6-4 rain shortened win against the Eau Claire Express (20-8, 42-20).  The Woodchucks finish the season an even 5-5 against the Express on the season, setting up exciting possibilities for the playoffs.

The Woodchucks scored early and never trailed, taking a 1-0 nothing lead in the 1^st inning when Rob Lind doubled and scored on a Pat Terry groundball.  The RBI was the first of 4 in the game for Terry, who had 9 RBI this weekend and is now second on the team with 33.  The ‘Chucks added 2 more in the 2^nd inning when Chris Amezquita his his 3^rd home run of the season with Brock Stassi on base.  The ‘Chucks finally stretched the lead to 4-0 when Rob Lind walked, stole 2 bases, and scored to make the game 4-0.

The Express came back with 3 in the 3^rd helped along by a pair of errors to close the gap to 4-3.  Jason Martyn, the Woodchucks starter, surrendered the runs but was only charged with one earned.  Martyn finished with 3+ innings pitched, one strikeout, and the one earned run.

Pat Terry again produced for the Woodchucks in the 5^th to widen the gap.  Travis Whitmore drew a 2 out walk and Terry hooked a liner around the left field foul pole for a 2 run shot, his 5^th of the year, and a 6-3 Woodchucks lead.

Eric Fritz (1-2), who entered the game in the 4^th, allowed a solo home run to close the gape to 6-4, but that was all Fritz would allow in 3.1 innings.  Fritz struck out 3 while earning the win.

With a runner on in the bottom of the 7^th, Eric Fritz left for Andrew Klausmeier, but just as Klausmeier started his warm-ups, lightning shot through the Eau Claire sky and the game was postponed.  Rain started soon after, and following an hour-long delay, the game was called off with the Woodchucks winning 6-4.

The Woodchucks play 7 of their last 8 at home, starting tomorrow with the Green Bay Bullfrogs.  The game starts at 6:35 and can be heard on Fox Sports 1390 AM.