Stevens Rivas delivers the walk-off base hit to win the game and win the fourth straight over the Chucks

 

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – After eight and a half scoreless innings from both sides, the Rafters won 1-0 in the ninth on a walk-off base hit from Steven Rivas (Long Beach State). Rivas’ hit scored Jordan Wiley (Kalamazoo College). Wiley reached first on a lead-off walk issued by Woodchucks reliever Alex Stodola. Stodola then made an errant throw to first attempting to pick off Wiley. The ball got away from the first baseman Alex Toral and with his speed, Wiley was able to reach third base on the error.

 

The Woodchucks elected to make a pitching change bringing in their closer Lennon Gwizdala. On the first pitch from Gwizdala, Steven Rivas hit it up the middle and past the glove of Michael Fernandez at second to bring Wiley home.

 

The cranberry and gold’s pitching played a crucial part in the win. Trayson Kubo (2-0, 0.56 ERA) earned a no decision. The pitcher out of Stephen F. Austin threw six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four. Chandler Greenfield (Dixie State) was given the win, his first of the year. Greenfield added three more scoreless innings, scattering three hits and fanning two.

 

The Woodchucks starter Alec Abdalah had a no-hit bid broken up after 5.1 innings by a base hit from Seth Mullis (UNLV). Gwizdala was the victim of the tough luck one pitch loss, his first loss of the season.

 

The Rafters will ride this momentum into a four-game road trip starting tomorrow evening visiting the Kenosha Kingfish for the first time this season. First pitch from Simmons Field 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. Now in 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, 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.raftersbaseball.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.