Kalamazoo had all three runs driven in by the same player as Wisconsin Rapids suffers first walk-off loss

 

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – After being shutout through seven innings, the Rafters came back in the final two frames to tie it up at two runs. Down to their final out and final strike, Kalamazoo got a walk-off hit from Niko Kavadas as Wisconsin Rapids fell by a final of 3-2.

 

Kalamazoo struck first in the first and third as Kavadas drove in two with RBI singles. The cranberry and gold kept the Growlers quiet until the ninth. The Rafters, meanwhile, scored their first run from a lead-off solo home run to left from Jarrod Watkins (Indiana State) in the eighth. Wisconsin Rapids tied it up in the ninth as Brody Wofford (UCF) scored on an RBI sacrifice fly from Matt Schmidt (Michigan).

 

In the bottom of the ninth, Kalamazoo got their leadoff hitter Jonathan Foster aboard via a bloop single to center field. Donovan Clark pinch ran for Foster and stole second to reach scoring position. Kavadas then hit a double to center field for his third RBI and handed the Rafters their first walk-off loss.

 

Mason Shinaberry (3-0, 1.80 ERA) was given the win for Kalamazoo despite blowing a save situation in the ninth. Jonathan Hernandez (1-1, 1.63 ERA) was given the loss. The Rafters will close out the two-game series and the road trip tomorrow with a 7:05 ET, 6:05 PM CT first pitch from Homer Stryker Field.

 

 

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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.