Despite a strong offensive showing, Wisconsin Rapids dropped a tight 3-2 game to Lakeshore

Grafton, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (4-7) struck first against the Lakeshore Chinooks (3-8), but ultimately fell in a close 3-2 divisional matchup.

The Rafters opened the scoring with a solo home run by Rich Ciufo to lead off the third inning, but Lakeshore would answer with a pair of runs in the fourth to take the lead. Wisconsin Rapids tied the game one inning later on a sacrifice fly by Josh Nicoloff.

In the seventh inning, the Chinooks retook the lead on a sac fly of their own to go up 3-2 heading to the eighth. The Rafters put a runner on in the top of the ninth, but Roman Trujillo was caught stealing with two outs to end the game.

Rafters starter Gareth Stroh pitched four innings, striking out two batters and surrendering just one hit. Wisconsin Rapids reliever Chris Sparks gets the loss while Lakeshore’s Aaron Ras is credited with the win and Will Klein picks up the save.

The Rafters and Chinooks close out a four-game series Saturday at Kapco Park as Wisconsin Rapids looks to split the series at 6:35 p.m.

Want to attend a Rafters game this season? Single-game tickets are on sale now. For more information on all Rafters ticket offerings visit Raftersbaseball.com, call the Rafthouse at 715-424-5400, or come visit us over at historic Witter Field. The Rafters ticket office is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday at Witter Field, 521 Lincoln Street in Wisconsin Rapids.

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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 200 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.