ALEXANDRIA, MN – AUGUST 2, 2007 – (stats) The Alexandria Beetles, the best hitting team in the Northwood’s League, out slugged the Woodchucks 10-6. The Chucks out hit the Beetles 14-13, but left five runners on base and squandered one big scoring opportunity.

The Chucks started the scoring in the second when Steve Winkelmann (Creighton) drove in Jeremy Barnes (Notre Dame) on a single. The Beetles countered with three in the bottom half, two being unearned.

Jake Pole (Augustana S.D.), who finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, started a rally for the Woodchucks in the third as the first four Chucks singled. With one run already in and the bases loaded, the Chucks squandered a golden opportunity striking out and grounding into a double play to end a possible big inning and trailed 3-2.

The Beetles exploded for five runs in the third and never looked back. The Woodchucks plated three runs in the seventh to get within three, at 8-5, but Alexandria countered with one run in the seventh and eighth to secure the victory.

Six Woodchucks had multi-hit games led by Nick Nordgren’s (Indian Hills C.C.) 3-for-5 and Darin Ruf’s (Creighton) 3-for-4. Jeremy Barnes smacked a solo shot in the eighth finishing with a double in his 2-for-3 performance.

Four pitchers logged an appearance for the Chucks as no one tossed three innings. Southpaw starter Sam Freeman (Marshall) tossed the first 2.1 innings, but gave up eight runs on six hits and did not strikeout a Beetle. Zak Moore (Creighton) tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, before Rex Ingham (Garden City C.C.) and Colin Auten (Texas Tech) ate up the last three innings.

NOTES: Willy Kesler is the probable starter for Friday, August 3 … It’s just the second time this season that the Chucks pitching staff has allowed 10 runs … The Chucks drop the season series to the Beetles 1-3 and now stand 17-18 all-time … The Chucks had six extra base hits … The 14 hits was the most for the Chucks since having 18 on July 17.