First-place Mallards visit Rafters for two-game series

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – Looking for a response after back-to-back home losses in  sweep at the hands of the expansion Rockford Rivets, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (7-6) are slated to greet the first-place Madison Mallards (9-5) this evening. Due to a scheduling anomaly, the Rafters and Mallards have already squared off six times in 2016, matching each other with three wins apiece. Trailing by 1.5 games in the standings entering the ballgame, tonight’s action represents an opportunity for the Rafters to both correct their course and gain ground in the South Division race.

Taking the ball for the Rafters will be right-hander Jay Peters (UW-Milwaukee) for his third start of the summer. Still chasing his first victory of the campaign, Peters enters the evening with an ERA of 3.27 spread across 11 innings on the bump. Peters, who has been a steadying presence at the front of the Rafter rotation, will look to relieve the recent pressure on the bullpen, who has combined to pitch 12.1 innings in the last two contests.

At the plate, the Rafters look to improve their hitting with runners in scoring position tonight, a situation that has proven challenging over the last two games. In two meetings with the Rockford Rivets, the Rafters combined to score just a pair of runs, while stranding 18 runners on base. 

Patrick Cromwell (Clemson), who had his 11-game hitting streak snapped last night, and Jake Lumley (Canisius) each carry 12-game on-base streaks into the action against Madison. 

First pitch at Witter Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:05 p.m.

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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.