Wisconsin Wins to Extend Season

APPLETON, Wisc. - The playoff dramatics returned to Fox Cities Stadium on Thursday evening. In a tough pitchers duel between two teams known for their hot hitting, it was some costly late-inning pitching mistakes that allowed the only run of the game to cross the plate.

After a seesaw battle featuring some excellent pitching, the tide turned in the eighth inning when Brent Johnson led off with a walk and was moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Oswaldo Navarro. The next batter Jeff Clement was walked intentionally and then Mike Wilson struck out for the second out. With two out and two men on, the Todd Stein, the new pitcher for South Bend, walked Thomas Hubbard to load the bases.

South Bend decided to bring in righthander Josh Perrault to face Chris Colton. Costly pitching mistakes finally killed the Silver Hawks. With the count 3-1 Colton watched ball four sail by, giving Brent Johnson a free ride home to give the Rattlers the 1-0 lead. Reliever Stephen Kahn worked the ninth inning to preserve the win for the Rattlers.

Through most of the night, pitching was the real story. Starters Robert Rohrbaugh and Koley Kolberg battled back and forth, keeping hits to a minimum. Kolhberg worked 6.1 strong innings for South Bend limiting the Rattlers to six hits with 10 strikeouts. And Rohrbaugh, making his second consecutive start in an elimination game for the Rattlers, went eight innings allowing no runs on three hits with seven strikeouts.

With the win the Rattlers saved their playoff lives and will return for a match up tomorrow evening with the South Bend Silver Hawks. Shawn Nottingham will take the hill for the Timber Rattlers against Chris Kinsey for the Silver Hawks. The game will start at 6:35.

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