Wisconsin’s Pitching Shines in 4-0 Series Finale Win Over Cedar Rapids 

Appleton, WI – After the Kernels notched 11 runs on 12 hits Saturday night, Edwin Jimenez and Shane Smith combined for a two-hit shutout on the mound for Wisconsin Sunday, as the Timber Rattlers blanked the Kernels 4-0 in the series finale.

In the bottom of the first inning Saturday, Wisconsin got on the board with a three-run home run, it took until the fourth inning Sunday, but the Timber Rattlers opened the scoring the same way. Darrien Miller singled to begin the inning, and with one out, Ben Metzinger did the same to put two on with one out for Jose Acosta, who smacked a three-run home run over the wall in right to put Wisconsin on top 3-0.

In the fifth, Joe Gray Jr. singled with one out, then the next batter Hendry Mendrez doubled down the line in right, scoring Gray all the way from first, increasing the Timber Rattlers' edge to 4-0.

That stayed the score until there was one out in the top of the seventh inning. Dalton Shuffiled ripped a single through the left side of the infield, breaking up Edwin Jimenez’s not hit bid and lifting him from the contest. Jimenez finished the outing going 7.1 innings, allowing just one hit and three walks while adding ten strikeouts. Shane Smith then came out of the bullpen and shut down the Kernels the rest of the way as Wisconsin held on to win the series finale 4-0.

Wisconsin (42-52) takes the series from the Kernels (58-38) 4-2, the first series loss for Cedar Rapids since April. The Kernels next return home Tuesday to open up a six-game series with Lansing at Veterans Memorial Stadium at 6:35.