WAUSAU, WI – AUGUST 7, 2007 – (stats) A 7-2 loss to the Brainerd Blue Thunder drops the Woodchucks 3.5 games back with just five games to play. Madison won their 14th straight game and Eau Claire won its fifth straight, both posting above .700 winning percentages.

The Woodchucks now sit 17-11 (33-29 overall) in the second half, while the win improves the Blue Thunder to 12-16 (23-39 overall).

Brainerd sent eight batters to the plate in the fourth, scoring four, and in the sixth, scoring three. Sam Freeman (Marshall) logged 5.2 innings allowing all seven runs on seven hits, while issuing five free passes. 

In the eighth, Greg Harder (UW-Whitewater) started a one-out rally with a single to right. Harder scored on a balk, before Blue Thunder starter Dustin Renfrow was yanked. An RBI-single by Vicente Cafaro (Iowa Western C.C.) drove in Darin Ruf (Creighton) completing the scoring for Wisconsin. The Chucks collected seven hits, led by Greg Harder (2-for-4) and Vicente Cafaro (2-for-3). 

Just three home games left at "The Burrow" as the Chucks take on the Brainerd Blue Thunder Wednesday, August 8 at 6:35 p.m. It will be Christmas in August, presented by Washington Square, where free prizes will be given out all game long.

NOTES: Willy Kesler is the probable starter for Wednesday, August 8  ... Chucks are now 18-12 at home this season ... Chucks are now 0-3 this season and 2-9 all-time versus the Blue Thunder ... Blake Martin (LSU) struck out the side in the eighth ... Its just the third time this season the Chucks have lost by five or more runs.