Rafters Drop First Game of Series to Mallards 6-3

The Rafters led off the second with a single from Garrett Callaghan (Rutgers) and walk from EJ Exposito (Long Island). Andrew Duran (New Orleans) singled but a quick throw from the outfield created a rundown that ended with Exposito tagged out. An RBI groundout from Weston Eberly (Columbia) and an RBI single from Elijah Dickerson brought home two.

The Mallards got a run back after a throwing error from starter Justin Beyer (Wagner) moved Kyle Bork to third and a 4-6-3 double play moved the runner across home plate.

The Rafters had another leadoff single in this sixth, this time from Josh Nicoloff who had two hits on the evening. After Hank Zeisler (Chapman) was hit by a pitch, Ben Swords (Webster) knocked a ball into right field. Another quick throw led to more confusion on the basepaths resulting in Zeisler being tagged out in a rundown.

Madison then took the lead in the sixth. After two runners reached on a walk and error, Cam Cratic blasted a three-run home run over the right field wall. Beyer completed the sixth and allowed four runs, throwing 90 pitches.

Wisconsin Rapids left three runners on base in the seventh, with the inning ending in a 6-4-3 double play. In the bottom half of the inning, Cratic lined a two-run single into right field off Billy Black (Columbia), he finished with five RBI.

Madison’s Kade Lancour finished the last 1.2 innings, the Rafters had three hits but the score remained unchanged.

The Rafters face the Madison Mallards tomorrow, Saturday, June 5th, at 6:35 PM at Witter Field for the second game of the series. The game can be heard on WFHR 1320 AM and seen on the Northwoods League Baseball Network.

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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 proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27^th season, 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 250 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. 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.