Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (3-2) turned the tables on the Madison Mallards (6-1) and routed the division leaders at Warner Park by a score of 13-5 on Monday night. On the back of five innings of one-run work from the bullpen and a franchise-record 22 hits, the Rafters submitted the streaking Mallards for their first loss of the season, and simultaneously picked up a game in the South Division standings.

The Rafters opened the scoring in the top of the first inning against Mallard starter Justin Watts, who would only record one out before being chased. While shortstop Jake Lumley was batting, Brandon Polizzi came across to score on a passed ball and offered the Rafters a lead that they would not relinquish. A Ben Fisher bases-clearing double with the bases loaded completed the Rats’ six-run first inning and gifted ample support to starter Jack Riley and the bullpen.

As for the record-setting hit total, every Rafter to start the ballgame recorded at least one hit, with a number of starters compiling multiple knocks. The aforementioned Brandon Polizzi and Jake Lumley each finished the night with three hits, while Ben Fisher led the way with three hits of his own, including the three-run double, a solo home run, and a single.

Out of the bullpen, Calvin Giese and Blair Lakso each put together excellent performances to close out the game, with Giese earning the victory.  After coming on in relief of Kyle Ostrowski, Giese inherited a bases loaded, no out jam, and buried the Mallards with three consecutive strikeouts to strand the runners. The threat would represent the last substantial resistance from the Mallards, as the Rafters cruised the rest of the way to their third win.

The two clubs meet again at Warner Park tomorrow evening at 6:35 pm before heading home to Wisconsin Rapids for back-to-back games against the Thunder Bay Border Cats.

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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 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, 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 150 former 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com.For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.