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The Rafters leave the bases loaded to end a difficult night
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – After falling in Green Bay on Tuesday night, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (28-16, 4-4) struggled to find their footing at the plate on Wednesday and succumbed to a sweep by the Green Bay Bullfrogs (19-25, 4-4) in an 8-2 loss. In the loss, the Rafters’ franchise-record nine-game home winning streak came to an end and relegated the club to 14-6 in 20 games at home.
Facing starting pitcher Jay Peters (UW-Milwaukee) for the second time this season, the Bullfrogs jumped in front early, pairing two home runs in the top of the first inning to take a 4-0 lead. Quincy Nieporte and Hill Alexander each leveraged a strong wind to left field to put the ball over the fence. In the ensuing inning, a run-scoring infield single from Parker Coss pushed the Bullfrog lead to 5-0. The offensive outburst from Green Bay continued into the fourth inning when Austin Clemons doubled home two more runs on a ground ball down the third base line and Jake Lumley (Canisius) committed an error that allowed a third run to score.
Peters, trailing 8-0, stiffened over the next two innings to keep the Bullfrogs off the scoreboard and fought to relieve a Rafter bullpen that was pushed into action early Tuesday night in Green Bay. Despite his early struggles, Peters finished six innings in which he gave up eight runs (five earned) on nine hits and one walk, while striking out five. In the loss, Peters matched his longest outing of the season before giving way to Nick Belzer (Des Moines Area CC), who was perfect in the final three innings of the game, retiring nine hitters in order and picking up one strikeout.
Finally in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Rafters managed to rattle Green Bay starter Stuart Springer, who had dominated through eight innings, by tightening their control over the strike zone. In the inning, the Rafters drew four walks from Springer, including one with the bases loaded, to chase the left-hander and ruin his shutout bid. Upon Springer’s exit, the Rafters greeted Dominick Golubiewski with another bases loaded walk before Aldo Koutsoyanopulos (Stanislaus State) grounded out to third to end the game and cement a final score of 8-2
The Rafters will look to return to their winning ways Thursday night, as they greet the Battle Creek Bombers for the Michigan club’s first visit to Witter Field this season. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM with gates opening to the public at 6:05 PM.
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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, 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 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 portal. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Rafters as your favorite team.