LA CROSSE- In a tight battle for the South Division first-half crown, the Loggers looked to keep up with only 5 games remaining in the half. La Crosse took the game in Wisconsin Rapids but fell short in the home game tonight.
Graham Spraker (Quincy) made his fifth start of the season against Adam Hall (Xavier) of the Rafters. Spraker looked great to start off, striking out three of the first four batters and hitless through two innings. The Rafters got to Spraker in third on a leadoff walk followed by two straight hits. After jumping out to a 1-0 in the third inning, Wisconsin Rapids added to it in the fourth. Brock Carpenter (Seattle) homered to start it off. A walk and a double extended the threat. The third Rafter of the night scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Logger lineup remained relatively quiet until Brock Lundquist came up in the fourth. His home run blast put the Lumbermen on the board for the first time in the night.
Wisconsin Rapids was not done with Spraker just yet. A single and double put the Loggers in trouble again. Michael Echavia came in to relieve but could not slow down the Rafter bats. A run scored on a wild pitch, and the two more on a Mitchell McGeein (Eastern Michigan) home run.
La Crosse battled back in the bottom of the 6th. Jordan Zimmerman (Michigan State) reached on base hit. A walk and an error loaded the bases for Jordan Pearce (Nevada). With a loaded count, Pearce walked, scoring Zimmerman. Riley Adams (San Diego) singled, bringing in two Loggers and Denz’l Chapman (San Diego State) bunted another in to bring the Rafter lead to just one.
Wisconsin Rapids grabbed a run in the seventh before Matt Naylor (North Florida) shut down the Rafters. Mason McCoy earned his fourth hit of the game in the ninth and scored on a Jordan Zimmerman groundout. The Loggers fell short but are still in the race. Kenosha and Lakeshore lost as well so La Crosse remains at 2.5 games back in the South Division race. Wisconsin comes to town for a weekend series. Come down to the Lumberyard to see the Zooperstars! Game time is 6:05.
