KENOSHA, Wis. \u2013 The Kenosha Kingfish (28-23, 6-10) fell again at Historic Simmons Field on Sunday by a score of 2-1 to complete a three-game sweep at the hands of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (38-13, 11-4). The loss was Kenosha\u2019s fourth in five games since the All-Star break.<\/p>\n
After struggling all day Saturday to string together base hits, the Kingfish were able to hit the ball harder early in Sunday\u2019s game, collecting six hits in the first four innings. Unfortunately for Kenosha, none of those hits were able to score, as Wisconsin Rapids starting pitcher Quinn DiPasquale (Stevens Institute of Technology) was able to spread out the baserunners enough to consistently post zeroes.<\/p>\n
As he did that, however, lefty starter Zach Stromberg (Boston College) remained just as dominant in the early going, retiring ten straight batters between the first and fourth innings. The Rafters were finally able to get to him in the fifth inning when second baseman Bryson Stott reached on an error by first baseman Derek Bangert to begin the inning, a play that was followed by a walk and a single that scored the game\u2019s first run.<\/p>\n
Shortstop Santino Rivera (Long Beach State) lifted a bases loaded sacrifice fly to right field to score a second run three batters later, and Wisconsin Rapids gained a 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n
The Kingfish\u2019s first and only burst of offense in the three-game series came off the bat of Bangert in the bottom of the sixth inning, when the team\u2019s home run leader crushed a solo home run to left center, giving him nine for the season and extending his on-base streak to 48 games.<\/p>\n
Kenosha was kept in the game with the help of some dominant relief pitching, with right-hander Nick Long (Florida) shutting down the Rafters\u2019 bats for 3.1 shutout innings, during which he struck out five and threw 36 of his 42 pitches for strikes. Left-hander Ben Lynam (Parkland CC) then chipped in with a 1-2-3 inning of work in the ninth inning.<\/p>\n
The Kingfish put the tying run at second with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a walk and hit by pitch that began the frame. Wisconsin Rapids closer Layne Henderson (Azusa Pacific University) settled in after that though, retiring the next three hitters in order to finish things off.<\/p>\n
The Kingfish will host the Wisconsin Woodchucks next for two games, starting with a 7:05p.m. start time on Monday. The game will also be the night of the North Shore Bank Hot Dog Hundo, as well as the Brew Pub Pizza sublimated baseball giveaway.<\/p>\n
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