Wisconsin Rapids, WI. – A tight game between the Rafters and the Chinooks was led all the way until the bottom of the ninth as the Rafters defeated the Chinooks in a walk-off fashion. 

With two outs and a runner in scoring position, Jacob Igawa walked it off for the Rafters in the bottom of the ninth. A final score of 6-5, led the Rafters (17-6) to their fourth straight win and handed the Chinooks (10-11) their fourth loss in a row. 

The Chinooks took a leaping start when they took a 3-0 lead over the Rafters in the second inning when Joey Spence hit a three-run home run for his second of the series. Spence alongside himself brought in Aidan Longwell and Nathan Aide. Longwell led off the inning with a walk and Aide had a single to right field. 

Matthew Mueller (0-1, 4.50 ERA) got the start on the mound for the Chinooks in his second outing of the season. Mueller pitched 3.1 innings allowing three runs on three hits and had five strikeouts. 

The Rafters scored their first runs right after the Chinooks started scoring. Aidan Brewer closed in on the Chinook’s lead making it a 3-2 ball game after a two-run RBI single to right field put the Rafters on the board.

In the top of the fourth, the Chinooks took a 4-2 lead off a Peyton Sanderson RBI single for his 10 RBI of the season.

The Rafters once again scored the same inning as the Chinooks and cut the Rafters deficit to one run in the bottom of the fourth. With Garrett Broussard in scoring position all it took was a sacrifice fly ball to center field to bring him home making it 4-3. 

Calvin Bickerstaff (2-3, 3.25 ERA) came in for the Chinooks midway through the fourth inning. Bickerstaff pitched 2.1 innings allowing one run on no hits. 

Andy Nelson put the Chinooks back up 5-3 as he led off the top of the sixth inning with his first home run of the season to center field.

Brewer once again shrunk the Chinooks lead in the bottom of the sixth scoring Broussard on a sacrifice fly. 

The fiery arm, George Klassen (0-0, 6.23 ERA) came into pitch for the Chinooks in the bottom of the sixth inning. Klassen allowed one run on one hit in his 1.1 innings pitched and had two strikeouts. 

The Rafters tied it up in the bottom of the seventh when Nater Nankil hit a home run to left field. 

The reliable arm of Mitch Mueller (3-2, 1.09 ERA) came to close in the bottom of the eighth inning. Mueller allowed just one run on four hits. 

The Rafters pitching gradually shut the Chinooks offense down as they were held hitless after the sixth inning. 

With two outs and two runners aboard, Igawa found himself in a battle with Mueller. In a seven pitch at bat, Igawa eventually found his pitch, ripping it up the middle to bring in the go ahead run.

The Chinooks will back at Moonlight Graham Field at Kapco Park on Saturday night taking on the Traverse City Pit Spitters at 6:35 p.m.