CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Wisconsin starter Ethan Dorchies did not allow a run across 6.2 innings Friday night, leading the Timber Rattlers past the Kernels 6-0.
For the first time in the series, Wisconsin struck first. Sawyer Strosnider singled to lead off the third, and after a walk moved him to second, he scored on a Tayden Hall RBI single to put the Timber Rattlers in front 1-0.
That was the only run allowed by Cedar Rapids starter Justin Mitrovich. Across four one-run innings, Mitrovich allowed four hits while matching a career-high with seven strikeouts.
Wisconsin added on in the top of the fifth. Strosnider doubled to start the inning and scored a batter later on a Daniel Dickinson RBI two-base hit to double the lead to 2-0. After Dickinson scurried to third on a wild pitch, he came home on a Hall RBI groundout to up the advantage to 3-0.
That was plenty of support for Wisconsin starter Ethan Dorchies. The right-hander posted 6.2 shutout innings with eight strikeouts.
The Timber Rattlers blew it open in the top of the eighth. A two-out error followed by a dropped third strike put two on for Wisconsin. After a wild pitch moved them both into scoring position, a Strosnider two-run single put the Rattlers up 5-0. A batter later, Strosnider scored from first on a Dickinson RBI double to push the lead to 6-0, the score that would be the final.
The loss breaks the Kernels' three-game winning streak to start the series and drops Cedar Rapids to 44-66 on the season. Cesar Lares gets the start Saturday opposite Wande Torres as the series with Wisconsin continues at 6:35.