Wisconsin Rapids out-hits Madison nine to eight, but fall 6-1

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Rafters (22-23, 7-6) fell to the Madison Mallards (29-21, 9-6), 6-1, at Witter Field on Wednesday night. The Rafters out-hit the Mallards, 9-8, but all nine hits for Wisconsin were singles, while the Mallards had three doubles on the night. Brian Russell (College of Staten Island) took the loss for the Rafters, while A.J. Bogucki got the win for Madison.

The Mallards got on the board first, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. Wisconsin Rapids responded, just like they did early in Tuesday night’s game, with a run of their own in the first and make it a 2-1 game.

After that, both starting pitchers settled in for the next few innings as both teams combined for just two hits over the next four innings. Russell retired seven in a row and 10 of 11 batters at one point, while Bogucki kept the Rafters off the board despite a couple of Madison errors.

The Mallards added a pair of runs in the sixth, then added two insurance runs in the eighth to pull away. The Rafters had their leadoff hitter reach in each of the final four innings, but could string together any hits to bring runs home.

Northwoods League All-Star Brock Carpenter (Seattle) and Jake Sandlin (Southern Mississippi) had two hits each to lead the way for the Rafters, while Beau Jordan (LSU) had the lone RBI for Wisconsin Rapids.

The Rafters will head to Kenosha, Wisconsin for a pair of games against the Kingfish at Simmons Field on Thursday and Friday before returning to Witter Field on Saturday, July 18 against the La Crosse Loggers. It will be the first Rosco P. Rafter bobblehead giveaway of the season will come your way on Saturday, July 18th on Advanced Disposal “Go Green” Night. The bobblehead will feature Rosco P. Rafter assuming the identity of Eco-Man, Protector of the Environment. And as on every Saturday game at Witter Field, all kids in attendance will invited to run the bases following the conclusion of the 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.