Union Grove lets late lead slip in 4-2 loss at Wilmot

Union Grove carried a lead into the late innings Thursday, but Wilmot broke through in the fifth and handed the Broncos a 4-2 Southern Lakes Conference loss at Panther Sports Complex.

The decisive swing came with the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth. After Ruby singled home a run, Watson delivered a two-run triple that turned the game in Wilmot’s favor and erased what had been a steady effort from Union Grove through the first half of the afternoon.

The Broncos scored both of their runs in the top of the second. Drew Dinauer brought one home on a fielder’s choice, and Cooper Dye followed with a sacrifice fly to give Union Grove a 2-0 advantage. Dinauer and Dye accounted for the team’s two RBIs, while Dinauer, Tucker Katterhagen and Weist each finished with one hit.

Union Grove also showed patience at the plate, drawing six walks. Williams led that effort with three free passes as the Broncos consistently created traffic, but Wilmot’s bullpen kept the game within reach. Wilmot starter Dzierzanowski allowed two hits and two runs, both unearned, over three innings while striking out two and walking four. He later earned the win after the reliever worked two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with one strikeout and one walk. Ruby picked up the save.

Evan Northup took the loss for Union Grove after working five innings. He allowed four runs, two earned, on six hits, struck out three and walked one. For much of the game, Northup kept Wilmot from producing the big inning, but the Panthers finally broke through in the fifth. Watson finished 2-for-3 and led Wilmot with two RBIs.

For Union Grove, the result stung because the Broncos were in position to close out a conference road win before Wilmot’s late rally. Instead, the game turned on one bottom-of-the-fifth sequence, with Ruby’s RBI single and Watson’s triple providing all the separation the Panthers needed in a 4-2 final.