Rafters take advantage of Mallards’ blunders and even season series

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Rafters scored three runs while Madison committed three errors in the field to win game two of the season series by a final of 3-1. The cranberry and gold struck first in the third. Bret Fehr (SIU-Edwardsville) hit a single to right to get things started. Fehr would then steal second successfully and advanced to third on a groundout. Tommy Szczasny (Northern Illinois) forced an errant throw from Mallards’ third baseman Tyler Plantier allowing Fehr to score. Szczasny reached first safely again this time on error by first baseman Jake Randa. Jordan Larson (Northern Illinois) drove in the second run with an infield hit.

The Mallards answered in the sixth with a Trevor Schwecke home run to right field. Wisconsin Rapids tacked on one more in the ninth off another error by Plantier. Larson would force the error this time allowing Szczasny to touch home plate after reaching on a fielder’s choice.

The Rafters pitching was excellent. Trayson Kubo (Stephen F. Austin) earned the win by throwing five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and fanning six. Jonathan Hernandez (Chapman) pitched the sixth and seventh allowing just the Schwecke home run. Mason McReaken (SIU-Edwardsville) locked it down from there to earn his first save of the year and second of his Rafters’ career.

Dalton Wiggins was given the loss for the Mallards despite allowing just two unearned runs.

The Rafters next travel to Wausau to face the Woodchucks tomorrow night at Athletic Park to conclude their three-game road trip. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 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. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods 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 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.wisconsinrapidsrafters.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.