Wisconsin wins with a walkoff

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers stunned the Cedar Rapids Kernels with four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 7-6 victory on Saturday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. Ben McMahan tied the game with a two-run single and Parker Berberet drove in the winning run to cap Wisconsin's final inning comeback. Chadwin Stang broke out of a slow start with two doubles, a homer, and four runs scored to pace the Rattlers to their first win of 2012.

Jason Rogers continued his hot start and put the Rattlers (1-2) in front early. Stang doubled to start the Wisconsin first inning. One out later, Rogers lined a double down the third base line to send Stang in for a 1-0 lead. Rogers has at least one hit and one RBI in each of the first three games this season. He would continue his onslaught with two more hits and another RBI later in the game.

But first, Kernels shortstop Trevor Hairgrove tied the game in the top of the third inning with a one out solo homer to left.

The Kernels (2-1) took the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Chevy Clarke singled and stole second. He was on third base with two outs and an 0-2 count on Hairgrove. Clarke would score on a passed ball to make it 2-1.

Stang answered the Cedar Rapids run with one swing in the bottom of the fifth. The Wisconsin centerfielder lined a homer to left with one out to tie the score 2-2.

Cedar Rapids manufactured a run without a hit off Rattlers starting pitcher Brandon Williamson in the top of the sixth. Two walks and a force out at second had Kaleb Cowart at third and Gary Mitchell at first with two outs. Clarke was at the plate and Mitchell broke for second. The throw went through to second, Cowart broke for the plate, and beat the return throw to home for a 3-2 Cedar Rapids lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Rogers would deliver a two-out RBI single to score Stang from second to tie the game again.

Wisconsin reliever Stephen Peterson looked like he would get out of the top of the ninth without a run being scored. Clarke started the inning with a double and stole third with one out. Peterson recorded a strike out for the second out and had a 2-2 count on Hairgrove. But, Hairgrove singled to score Clarke and the Kernels were up 3-2. Ryan Mosequit followed with a single and Ryan Jones drove in both Hairgrove and Mosequit with a double for a 6-3 advantage.

Cedar Rapids reliever Logan Odom, who had worked a scoreless eighth, retired the first batter in the bottom of the ninth. John Dishon started the rally with a walk on four pitches. Stang was next and he lined a double off the wall in left to send Dishon home and cut the Kernels lead to two runs.

Greg Hopkins drew a walk and - after a wild pitch moved both Stang and Hopkins up a base - Rogers coaxed a free pass to load the bases. That brought Stephen Tromblee out of the Kernels bullpen to face Ben McMahan.

The Rattlers left fielder grounded a 2-2 pitch through the hole between short and third to send Stang and Hopkins home and tie the game 6-6.

Berberet sent the fans home happy by drilling a 2-1 pitch to the gap in left-center and Rogers easily scored the winning run.

The Timber Rattlers are off on Sunday and return to action on Monday against the Burlington Bees in Iowa. David Goforth is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Listen to the game on AM1280 or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10. Game time is 6:30pm.

HOME RUNS:
CR:
Trevor Hairgrove (1st, 0 on in 3rd, off Brandon Williamson, 1 out)

WIS:
Chadwin Stang (1st, 0 on in 5th, off Joe Melioris, 1 out)

WP: Stephen Peterson (1-0)
LP: Logan Odom (0-1)

TIME: 3:05
ATTN: 1,192