WAUSAU, WI – July 11th 2009 – Duluth starter Jeff Rydman threw five perfect innings before leaving due to injury, but the bullpen picked things up from there as the Huskies defeated the Woodchucks 2-0 Saturday night at Athletic Park.

Rydman and Woodchucks starter Brandon Koenigstein (Creighton) dueled for five shutout innings as neither offense was able to put together a rally.

In the top of the sixth, the Huskies finally broke through when Scott Sommerfeld hit a leadoff double and came around to score on an RBI single by Andy Burns. The Huskies added another run in the inning after Zach Walters reached on an error and came all the way to score to make it 2-0.

After retiring the first 15 batters in order, Rydman left the game after suffering an oblique injury on a 0-2 pitch to Ben Long. After retiring long, Huskies reliever Alex Kent surrendered an infield single to Carson Vitale (Campbell) which broke up the perfect game.

The Woodchucks would only muster up one more hit in the contest, as Kent and Matt Patterson combined to finish up the shutout and earn the Huskies a split in the season series with each team winning two games.

Vitale and Chad Wright (Kentucky) were the only two hitters to record a hit in the contest, while Burns and Sommerfeld were the only two batters to record multiple hits in the matchup.

Koenigstein went six innings and allowed just two runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out four and walking one. Dan Gardo (Campbell) through the final three shutout innings and gave up just one hit.

The ‘Chucks will now take on the St. Cloud River Bats for a two game set with the first game taking place at Athletic Park tomorrow at 5:05 pm and game two at Bukolt Park in Stevens Point at 7:05 pm.

**Report Courtesy Woodchucks Media Relations