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Wisconsin Rapids now 3-0 against Battle Creek in 2015
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Rafters snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory over the Battle Creek Bombers on Friday night. Jake Sandlin (Georgia College) broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh with a bases clearing triple to give Wisconsin Rapids their first lead of the game. Jake Johansmeier (Eastern Illinois) picked up his fourth win of the season, tossing three scoreless innings in relief. Tyler Harris took the loss for Battle Creek after surrendering the triple to Sandlin. The win moves the Rafters above .500 again at 12-11, while the loss drops the Bombers to 10-14.
Sandlin had a forgettable day at the plate until the seventh, striking out swinging in his first three at-bats. But with the game on the line, the Evans, Ga. Native lined a shot down the first base line to put the Rafters ahead. Brock Carpenter (Seattle) carried over a hot bat from yesterday’s game to go 3-for-4 at the dish, while also reaching on an error. Demetrius Sims (Bethune-Cookman) was 1-for-3 at the plate, but had several impressive plays in the field. In the eighth inning, Sims started the inning with a diving catch on a ball hit to shallow left, then recorded the third out of the inning on a hot shot up the middle.
Wisconsin Rapids starter Jack Riley (Connecticut) surrendered a few runs early, but turned in a quality start, going six innings and allowing three runs, only two of which were earned. The lefty struck out three and walked three. Johansmeier came on in relief and was perfect in the seventh and eighth before running into a little trouble in the ninth. After retiring the first two hitters in the ninth inning, Johansmeier allowed two Bombers’ hitters to reach. With runners at first and second, the right-hander then gave up an infield single, but the Rafters were able to get the final out when the Battle Creek runner tried to score from third.
The Rafters will look to complete the Witter Field sweep of the Bombers on Saturday, with first pitch coming at 6:05 p.m. and gates opening at 5:05 p.m.
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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.
