Mallards fall to Rafters in series opener, lead slims to one game

Madison, WI – Madison and Wisconsin Rapids opened their most crucial series of the season on Wednesday night at Warner Park. A powerful Rafters’ start lifted them to a 10-5 victory.

Frankie Wright got the ball for Madison in his return to the rotation after two weeks of rest. The Wisconsin Rapids lineup saw the ball well in the first three innings, tallying seven hits and six runs. The runs were all scored via the long ball. Ty Johnson smashed a grand-slam to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the 2nd and was followed in the 3rd with James Bornick hitting his first bomb.

Madison countered in the bottom of the 2nd with a Keenan Taylor three-run blast against Rafters’ starter Brycen Parrish. Parrish would go on to turn in 5.1 while striking out five.

Wisconsin Rapids added four more in the span of two innings against Mallards’ reliever Andres Kleinsek. A number of defensive miscues without recording an error hurt Madison midway through the contest.

Madison would threaten against Kyle Poissoit in the bottom of the 9th with the first three batters reaching base, scoring one run, but Poissoit recorded three consecutive outs to shut the door in game one.

Madison and Wisconsin Rapids will complete their season series with playoff hopes on the line for both clubs on Thursday night at Warner Park. The pivotal game two of the series will begin at 6:05 P.M. CST.