By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Chaparrals got back to .500 on the season with an important Dairyland League win last night. The Chaps held off the Westboro Trojans 6-5 in a seven-inning game at Hackman Field in Marshfield on July 24, in a game that was postponed because of last Saturday’s storms.

Marshfield took an early lead with a three-run first inning. After Nate McDonald walked and Justin Rayburn singled, Luke Wirtz delivered an RBI double that scored McDonald. Rayburn scored on a sacrifice fly by Sam Schwanebeck. The Chaparrals added another run in the second inning.

Westboro got on the board in the third, when Chaps pitcher Bobby Pilz loaded the bases then walked in a run. The Trojans added another run in the fifth. Marshfield got a run back in the sixth inning, on a sacrifice fly by Connor Jasurda that scored Hunter Korger. Westboro closed the gap to one with a two-run sixth inning, on RBI ground outs by Dalton Strebig and Dustin Freeman after Marshall Westfall had walked and Aiden Gardner reached on an error.

 The Chaps put up their last run of the game in the top of the seventh. Rayburn doubled and then scored on an RBI base hit by Luke Wirtz. Westboro rallied with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Westfall collected another base hit, and then went to second base on Aiden Gardner’s fielder’s choice.

When Jasurda missed a tag, both Westfall and Gardner were safe on the play. Westfall then scored on an RBI base hit by Trace Brayton and Gardner went to third. Strebig came up to bat with two outs and the tying run at third base. But Pilz struck him out to end the game.

Pilz picked up the complete-game win. He gave up five runs on eight hits, while walking four and striking out eight. Offensively for Marshfield, Rayburn had two singles and a double, Wirtz had a single, a double and two runs batted in. Schwanebeck and Jasurda each had RBIs.

The Chaparrals improved their overall record to 8-8, and their Dairyland League record to 7-3–most likely good enough to make the playoffs. The Chaps play at Minocqua on July 27, then host Spirit on July 28 at 1:30 p.m.