Wisconsin Rapids splits the season series with Kalamazoo at 4-4

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin – The Rafters surrendered six runs in the third inning to the Kalamazoo Growlers in a 6-4 loss on Sunday. Wisconsin Rapids loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with one out, but grounded into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play. Kalamazoo’s TJ Cerven (KVCC) earned the win, while Adam Hall (Coastal Carolina) took the loss for the Rafters. Nick Wernke (West Virginia) induced the double play in the ninth to earn the save.

Wisconsin Rapids got on the board first as Mitchell McGeein (Eastern Michigan) hit his team-leading eighth home run of the season, a solo shot, to deep left center. The Rafters added a run on a bases loaded groundout by Scotty Wright, scoring Sam Tolleson, to take 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

The Growlers did all of their damage in the third inning when they brought 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs. Kalamazoo had three hits in the inning, but also had three runners reach base via the walk and one hit batter. Five of the six runs came around with two outs on a bases loaded walk, a two-RBI single and a two-RBI double.

A combination of Rafters relievers Dmitry Shtykher (Russia), Derek Kawlewski (Rhode Island) and Craig Pearcy (Morehead State) held the Growlers scoreless over the final six innings of the game. Unfortunately for Wisconsin Rapids, the Kalamazoo bullpen did the same, holding the Rafters scoreless from the fourth inning on.  

The Rafters head to Green Bay next for a couple of games against the Green Bay Bullfrogs at Joanne Stadium on July 27-28. Wisconsin Rapids then heads to Eau Claire for a day, night doubleheader on July 29 before returning to Witter Field for Renaissance Night at Witter Field on July 30.

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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.