MADISON (WSAU-Woodchucks) The Wisconsin Woodchucks (11-5, 29-22) pounded 19 hits Tuesday night while defeating the Madison Mallards (11-6, 28-22) 13-4. Seven Woodchucks had multi-hit games as the ‘Chucks pulled back on pace for the second half South Division title.

The Woodchucks led early when Brock Stassi hit a 2 run home run in the 2nd inning to give the Woodchucks a 2-0. It was Stassi’s 4th of the season, and he finished 2-4 with 2 runs scored. The ‘Chucks then added a another run in the 3rd while chasing starter Rusty Shellhorn (2-3). Dillan Napoleon relieved Shellhorn and escaped a bases loaded jam and pitched well through the middle innings while the Mallards scored in the 2nd and 5th to cut the lead to 3-2.

The Woodchucks came alive in the 6th when Eric Fritz stepped to the plate with 2 on and one out and skied a 0-1 pitch down the right field line that got just over the glove of Justin Parr into the left-field porch for a 3 run homer, Fritz’s first of the year. Travis Whitmore added a 2-out, 2 RBI basehit later in the inning, one of 4 Whitmore hits on the night, and the ‘Chucks finished the 6th with 5 runs and a 8-2 lead.

The Mallards added 2 more in the 6th off starter Jared Eickhoff (3-2) before Jon Moscot entered and pitched 4 shutout innings to finish the game and earn his first save. Moscot had 2 strikeouts and allowed only one hit in his 4 innings of work.

As Moscot pitched, the Woodchucks bats came alive again in the 9th when Eric Fritz doubled in a run, Kevin Pillar singled in another, and Rob Lind hit his 3rd home run, a towering shot to right field. When the dust settled, the Woodchucks had scored 5 times and led 13-4. Pillar and Whitmore finished with 3 hits, while Rob Lind extended his hit streak to 8 games and his multi-hit streak to 5 games, Sharif Othman had 3 hits, and Pat Terry, stasis, and Fritz had 2 each.

With the win the Woodchucks lead Madison by half a game for the second half title and head to La Crosse for two games with the Loggers. Wednesday’s game is at 7:05 and can be heard on Fox Sports 1390 AM.