Wisconsin Rapids pays Kalamazoo a visit for the first time this season to play final two of the road trip

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – After settling for a series split with the Kingfish last night, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters head to the eastern time zone for the first time in 2018. The Rafters will face the Growlers in a two-game series starting tonight at Homer Stryker Field. Last night, the Rafters found themselves in an early hole against the Kingfish. Trailing 6-0 after three innings, the cranberry and gold loaded the bases on the starter Denson Hull and cleared them courtesy of a three-run double to left center by Matt Schmidt (Michigan). David Renning hit a grand slam for Kenosha a half inning later to make it 10-3 Kenosha after four. The Rafters did not go down quietly as Jack-Thomas Wold (UNLV) blasted his third home run of the year in the sixth. Wisconsin Rapids fell to Kenosha 10-4.

Tonight, the season series against the Kalamazoo Growlers begins. The all-time series between these clubs is 19-13 in favor of Wisconsin Rapids. The Rafters have won the last two meetings. The starter for Wisconsin Rapids this evening is RHP Charlie Ruegger (1-2, 3.60 ERA). Ruegger is making his fourth start tonight and thus far has struck out 17 across 10.0 total innings.

Kalamazoo will send out RHP Kyle Virbitsky (0-0, 2.70 ERA). A freshman from Penn State, Virbitsky has thrown 10.0 innings across two starts so far. He has given up three runs on nine hits and has struck out seven on the year. First pitch from Homer Stryker Field is set for 7:05 PM EST, 6:05 PM CST.