Bandits Earn Win in WSL/NEWBL

Matt Phipps did not allow an earned run in seven innings of work and the Manitowoc Bandits used a five-run outburst in the fifth inning to key an 8-2 win over the rival Sheboygan A's at Wildwood Park on Tuesday night.
Phipps scattered eight hits and two walks in evening his record at 4-4 on the year. He also struck out six and forced the A's to strand 11 runners in his seven innings of work.
Sheboygan (31-20 overall) took advantage of the Bandits' lone error in the game to score a pair of runs in the fourth inning to cut Manitowoc's lead to 3-2. However, the game didn't stay close for long.
A's reliever Chad Gehr walked four straight batters with one out in the top of the fifth, the last coming to Donovan Strouf to force in a run. Doug Bloom then lifted a sacrifice fly to plate the second run of the inning.
Brock Wetenkamp, who led the Bandits with a 3-for-5 night, then doubled home a run, and T.C. Lee followed with a two-run double that gave Manitowoc the six-run lead it would hold the rest of the way.
The Bandits mustered only one hit after the fifth inning — a single by Josh Krowiorz in the sixth — but Manitowoc still managed to outhit Sheboygan 10-8 in the game.
Manitowoc (33-20 overall) opened the scoring with three runs in the third inning, getting RBI-singles from Max Stepan and Mike Hall, while scoring another run on a wild pitch.
The Bandits will be back on the road today to face the Oshkosh Giants, before returning home Friday to host the De Pere Riverbandits at Municipal Field.