Rafters Look to Snap Four-Game Skid

Wisconsin Rapids hosts Madison for the final time in 2017

 

Wisconsin Rapids, WI – With a chance to snap a four-game losing streak, Wisconsin Rapids (38-17, 11-8) hosts Madison (30-24, 11-8) at Witter Field on Thursday. It is the final meeting between the two teams in Rapids. 

 

The Rafters come off of a series against Wisconsin where they dropped two games of a double-header on Wednesday. 

 

In the first game of a day-night double header, the Woodchucks earned a 15-5 win over Wisconsin Rapids at Witter Field, tallying 17 hits and recording a season high for runs in a game. All nine Woodchuck starters recorded a hit, led by Tristan Clarke who finished the day 3-5 with a two-run home run and three runs scored. Jake Guenther hit his seventh home run of the season for the Rafters in the loss. 

 

In game two, Wisconsin jumped out to a fast lead once again, scoring in the first inning on an RBI double by Hunter Coleman to put the Woodchucks on top 1-0. 

 

Dustin Woodcock wasted no time in tying the game for the Rafters, blasting a solo homer in the top of the second to even the game at one. Bryson Stott drilled a single back up the middle to score both runners and give the Rafters a 3-1 lead. Jared Nelson gave the Rafters a four-run lead with a two-RBI single. The Woodchucks then scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-5 lead. 

 

With a 9-8 Wisconsin lead in the eighth, Stott drove a sacrifice fly to bring home the tying run for the Rafters, which eventually held the score 9-9 until the 12th, when the Woodchucks walked off on a Clarke single to win 10-9 and sweep the Rafters for the second time this season. 

 

The Rafters look to snap its longest losing streak of the season and send Isaiah Carranza (4-0) to the mound to face Madison. The right-hander from Oregon owns an ERA of 2.35 in five starts, with one appearance out of the bullpen. In his last start, Carranza pitched five and a third innings. The sophomore’s last victory came in relief on July 16th at home against Rockford in a 14-10 win. Carranza faced three batters and worked a strikeout and two groundouts. 

 

Stott has the hot hand for the Rafters entering Thursday’s game. The infielder is hitting .350 on the season, holding a 12-game hit streak. Stott has three hits in each of the past three games, and seven multi-hit games during that span. 

 

Thursday is Renaissance Learning and Edvest Night. Gates open at 6:05 p.m. at Witter Field for the 7:05 p.m first pitch. Coverage can be heard 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, 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.