WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI – The La Crosse Loggers six game winning streak came to an end on Wednesday night at Wittier Field in Wisconsin Rapids when the host Rafters beat the visiting Loggers 7-4.
As has become the trend, the Loggers jumped out early when Grant Fennell (Nevada) scored on a wild pitch in the second inning to give the Loggers a 1-0 lead behind starter Zach Smart (Sac City CC). Smart kept the Rafters bats quiet into the fourth inning, not allowing a single hit, despite some control issues. But Wisconsin Rapids did push one across in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score at one.
The Lumbermen jumped back on top in the fifth with a single run, but the left the bases loaded with a chance to add to their 2-1 lead. That would come back to haunt them as the Rafters scored three times in the bottom of the sixth and three more in the seventh to take control of the game and, eventually, the game.
La Crosse pounded out eleven more hits on the night, with four players collecting multi-hit games. Fennell led the way with a 3-4 night that included one run scored and one RBI. Mason McCoy (Iowa), Jordan Zimmerman (Michigan State) and Brock Lundquist (Long Beach State) all had two hits apiece.
Liam Carter (Missouri) suffered the loss in relief of Smart. The loss dropped the Loggers to 9-7 on the year and they now finally return home to host the Kenosha KingFish on Thursday night at The Lumberyard in the first of a two-game set. Gates open at 6 with the first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m.
