Rafters Return for Home and Home with Woodchucks 

Wisconsin Rapids set for final two games of the year with Wisconsin 

 

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – To finish the season series, Wisconsin Rapids (38-15, 11-6) hosts Wisconsin (21-32, 6-12) in the first game of a home and home double-header before heading to Wausau on Wednesday for the nightcap. The Rafters and Woodchucks are tied in the season series 3-3 ahead of the final two games. 

 

The Rafters return to Witter Field for the first time after the All-Star break after finishing their six-game road trip 4-2. In the last series of the trip, Rockford swept Wisconsin Rapids, winning the second game 4-3 at Rivets Stadium. 

 

It took until the third for a team to score, and it was the Rivets who struck first. Ryan Hutchinson (Illinois State) led off with a single and Neel Tyrell (Lewis) followed up with a base hit of his own. Zach Rheams (Texas Tech) and Brett Whelton (McNeese State) drove back-to-back RBI singles to give Rockford a 2-0 lead. The following inning, Rockford was led off by Anthony Forte (Louisiana State – Eunice) and a double. Hunter Feduccia (LSU) drew a walk, Hutchinson grounded out to bring in a run, and Tyrell unloaded for an RBI triple to give the Rivets a 4-0 lead after four. 

 

Wisconsin Rapids put two runs on the board in the fifth inning when Jared Nelson (Phoenix College) drove in Will Davis (Hope International) on a single to left. Charlie McConnell (Northeastern) and Bryson Stott (UNLV) each singled to load the bases, while Ryan Stekl (Canisius) notched a sacrifice fly to pull the game within 4-2. 

 

To start the top of the ninth, McConnell bounced his third hit of the game back up the middle for a base hit. Stekl then drove a single to left to bring home McConnell and pull the Rafters within 4-3 of Rockford. However, Zach Thomas earned his fourth save of the season by getting Dustin Woodcock to line out on the warning track in right center field to end the game. 

 

Starting on the mound for the first time this season for the Rafters is Grant Gunderson (University of St. Thomas). The right-hander has appeared in one game this year, tossing an inning on Sunday in Kenosha. Gunderson struck out one during the 1-2-3 inning to help preserve the 2-1 victory. In the spring, the sophomore threw in six games out of the bullpen, owning a 3.77 ERA with one start. 

 

The Rafters hand the ball to Tevita Gerber (UNLV) for game two in Wausau. The lefty has started four games this year while appearing out of the bullpen in six others. Geber tossed two scoreless innings on the road in Rockford on Monday. 

 

Game one on Wednesday is slated for 12:05 p.m. at Witter Field, with the gates opening at 11:00 a.m. Pregame coverage starts at 12:00 p.m. on AM 1320 WFHR and WFHR.com, the Rafters Radio Network. Game two in Wausau is set to begin at 6:35 p.m. with coverage starting at 6:25 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. 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 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.greenbaybullfrogs.com 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.