Rafters Attempt Sweep in Madison on Friday 

Wisconsin Rapids seeks third straight win against the Mallards

 

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – After a win on Thursday, Wisconsin Rapids (35-13, 8-4) seeks to sweep Madison (26-22, 7-6) on Friday at Warner Park. The Rafters are 3-2 against the Mallards this season. 

 

In the series-opening win, the Rafters used late offense in a 5-2 win behind three runs in the eighth inning on Thursday, while Layne Henderson closed the game out for his 12th save. 

 

The scoring got underway in the bottom of the third when Thomas Smart launched a solo home run off Rafters starter Isaiah Carranza to give the Mallards a 1-0 lead. 

 

The Rafters offense responded in the sixth when Nick Anderson led off with a walk. Dustin Woodcock singled to put runners at the corners, while Bryson Stott and Christian Jones each drove in a run with RBI base hits to left field. 

 

Madison wasted no time in tying the game in the sixth. Jeffrey Mitchell Jr. drove a single to right to score Zac Taylor to even the game at two after six. 

 

In the bottom of the seventh, Madison loaded the bases after Cade Bunnell was hit by a pitch, while Daily and Taylor drew walks. Mason McReaken (2-1) struck out Doran Turchin to stand all three runners and keep the scored tied 2-2. 

 

Jones led off the eighth with a walk for the Rafters, and scored on a Daily error to give the Rafters a 3-2 lead. Ryan Stekl and Scott Kapers notched back-to-back hits to load the bases, and Guenther scored on a wild pitch. Charlie McConnell grounded into a fielder’s choice to put Wisconsin Rapids in the lead 5-2 that Henderson closed out. 

 

On the mound for the Rafters on Friday is Jesse Slinger (5-1). The right-hander owns a 2.35 ERA in seven starts on the year. Slinger’s best start on the season came on Independence Day, where the sophomore tossed a complete game against Rockford in a 14-1 victory. Slinger has three starts on the season of six or more innings. 

 

Madison sends Heath Renz (3-1) to the mound against the Rafters. The right-hander owns a 4.32 ERA in 33 innings with 28 strikeouts. In his last start against Wisconsin Rapids, Renz went five innings, allowing five runs on six hits.  

 

First pitch on Friday is set for 7:05 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on AM 1320 WFHR and WFHR.com, the Rafters Radio Network. 

 

 

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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, 180 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 www.raftersbaseball.comor download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rafters as your favorite team.