Middle Innings Propel Rafters to 13^th Straight Win

Four home-runs carry the Wisconsin Rapids offense against Kalamazoo

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – Once the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (15-1) offense got going, it carried the way to an 11-3 win on Thursday night against the Kalamazoo Growers (4-12) from Homer Stryker Field.

The home Growers started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Ryan Mergener drove a double to score the game’s first run. Kalamazoo added another run in the inning on a Javier Martinez sacrifice fly to give the Growers a 2-0 lead after one.

The score stayed that way until Nick Anderson drove a solo home-run to left for the Rafters to cut the lead in half.

Trailing 2-1 entering the fifth, Bryson Stott changed the game with one swing, launching a two-run blast to pull the Rafters ahead for the first time in the game 3-2. In the sixth inning, Wisconsin Rapids put three runners on, all via the walk. With Nick Owens at the plate, Bryce Welborn’s fastball got over the catcher to score a run. Owens then drilled a ball back up the middle, scoring two runners and extending the lead to 6-2. Owens scored on a groundout to push the Rafters ahead 7-2.

Offense continued to lead the way in the top of the seventh when Jake Guenther led off with a walk. Scott Kapers drilled an 0-2 over the left field bleachers to give Wisconsin Rapids a 9-3 advantage.

Nick Anderson produced more offense on his stellar day, hitting a two-run home-run in the top of the ninth to pull the Rafters ahead 11-3. Anderson finished the game with three hits while reaching base all five time he came to the plate. Dustin Woodcock walked four times for the Rafters.

The win goes to Rafters starter Sam Carver (1-0). The lefty tossed five and two thirds of three-run baseball to pick up his first win of the year. Trey Schramm, Keaton Graf, and Layne Henderson finished the game without allowing a hit for the Rafters bullpen. The loss is tagged to Kalamazoo starter Zach Vitkuske (0-3).

Wisconsin Rapids and Kalamazoo finish the series on Friday at 6:05 pm CT. Coverage of the game can be found on WFHR 1320 AM or WFHR.com, the Rafters Radio Network at 5:50 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. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit http://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-rapids-rafters/ or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rafters as your favorite team.