Wisconsin Rapids moves to 5-1 against their rivals from the east

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin – The Rafters made history for the second time in three days when they defeated the Green Bay Bullfrogs 6-4 on Saturday evening. The win gave Wisconsin Rapids its 32nd victory of the season, surpassing the 2013 team that previously held the franchise-record for wins in a season with 31. The Rafters had to withstand a three-run ninth inning from the Bullfrogs, but held on to win thanks to a six unanswered Rafters runs from the third through seventh innings. Dmitry Shtykher (Russia) earned the win for Wisconsin Rapids, while Clayton Uselman (Madison College) took the loss for Green Bay. Justin Kelly (UC Santa Barbara) earned the one-out save for the Rafters.

The Bullfrogs got on the board first with a solo home run from Ray Greco (UW-Stevens Point) in the top of the third. In the bottom half of the inning, a pair of Green Bay errors aided the Rafters in scoring three runs, giving Wisconsin Rapids the lead, 3-1. The Rafters added two more runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-1 lead, as Sam Tolleson (Central Florida) picked up his second RBI of the game, followed by a Mitch McGeein (Eastern Michigan) RBI groundout.

Green Bay brought the game-tying run to the plate in the sixth inning as the Bullfrogs loaded the bases with just one out. Wisconsin Rapids pitcher Ethan Evanko (Grand Canyon), however, was able to work out of the jam by inducing a 6-4-3 double play, ending the Bullfrog threat. Again in the eighth the Green Bay loaded the bases, but Evanko was once again able to escape without any damage.

In the ninth, the Bullfrogs rallied for three runs, all unearned, as a Rafter error with two outs kept the inning alive for Green Bay. The Bullfrogs had the game-tying run on base, but Kelly shut the door for his second save of the season.

The Rafters will finish the season tomorrow with one final meeting with the Bullfrogs at Witter. First pitch will be at 5:05 p.m. with gates opening at 4:05 p.m. It’ll be Founding Partners Fan Appreciation Day at the ballpark with great giveaways all night long.

###

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 (KC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.