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Wisconsin Rapids dropped the opener of the day-night doubleheader against Eau Claire
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Rafters lost in the opening game of the day-night doubleheader against the Eau Claire Express in extra innings, 5-2. The Rafters, who had rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the seventh, nearly walked off in the bottom of the ninth, but the game-winning run was thrown out at home. The Express scored three runs in the 10th without recording a hit to win the game.
Brian Bass took the loss for the Rafters, while Cameron Cotton picked up the win for the Express. Victor Sanchez came on for the save in the 10th. The loss drops the Rafters to 15-17, while the win moves the Express to 13-21.
After a strong start by Jake Johansmeier (Eastern Illinois), the Rafters were down 2-0 heading to the bottom of the seventh. On the first pitch of the inning, Mitch McGeein (Eastern Michigan) cut the lead in half with a laser over the left field fence for his league-leading sixth home run of the summer. In the eighth, Brock Carpenter (Seattle) singled through the right side, scoring Zack Domingues (Long Beach State) to tie the game at 2-2.
The Rafters won’t wait long for their next game, as they’ll play the second half of this doubleheader against the Express tonight at 7:05 p.m. Gates will open at 6:05 p.m. Rafters General Manager John Fanta has guaranteed a win in the game. If the Rafters lose the nightcap, all fans in attendance will receive a free ticket to the July 6th game.
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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.