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Wisconsin Rapids fall to the Woodchucks for the first time as Chucks blast three home runs
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (13-11) fell to the Wisconsin Woodchucks (7-18) by a final of 9-2. The Chucks’ offense exploded with nine runs on twelve hits including three solo home runs.
The barrage started in the second inning as the Woodchucks’ DH Dom DeRenzo nailed a solo shot to center field. Cooper Swanson followed a couple batters later with a home run to left. Resse Alexiades capped it off with the bases loaded by hitting a double to center field. Wisconsin would strike again in the third. TJ Raguse smacked an RBI double and Isaac Quinones collected a two-run single.
The cranberry and gold fought back in the fourth. The Rafters loaded the bases on Orsen Josephina after back-to-back base hits from Brody Wofford (UCF) and Payton Robertson (Louisiana State Shreveport) preceded a walk to Ty Duvall (Vanderbilt). Jack-Thomas Wold (UNLV) brought in Wofford with a sacrifice fly to center field. Mitch Mallek (St. Cloud State) brought in another run with an RBI groundout but the Chucks escaped allowing just the two runs.
The Woodchucks collected their ninth and final run in the sixth from a solo home run to right field by Zach DeLoach. The Rafters’ bats were held in check after the fourth as they fell to the Woodchucks 9-2.
Orsen Josephina (2-1, 1.73 ERA) earned the win by throwing six innings, allowing only two runs and striking out six. Josh Winkler (0-1, 6.00 ERA) took the loss. Winkler pitched two frames and allowed five runs on five hits.
The two-game series and four-game road trip concludes tomorrow at Athletic Park with a 3:05 pm CT first pitch.
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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.