WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (4-3) scored two runs in the ninth and secured the walk-off win against the Wisconsin Woodchucks (5-2) 2-1 in a pitchers’ duel.

The starters were Matt Osterberg (St. Cloud State) for the Rafters and Ryan Lobus (Mercer) for the Woodchucks, both allowed no runs.

Osterberg retired six of the first nine batters he faced via strikeout. He did not allow one hit until the fourth inning, in which two reached base. The fourth inning finished with a 6-4-3 double play.

Lobus allowed two hits through the first four innings, recording his outs on fly balls, six in that stretch.

In the top of the sixth, two base runners got on to begin, after Louie Albrecht reached on an error and Roman Kuntz singled. Osterberg responded by striking out 1-2-3 in the Woodchucks lineup, ending his day with 10 strikeouts.

“The fastball worked for me, I threw 79 pitches and 61 were fastballs,” said Osterberg.

With two outs in the sixth, Hank Zeisler doubled off Lobus but was thrown out at third. Lobus completed seven scoreless innings. The Rafters went to their bullpen in the seventh, as Devin Rivera (Villanova) entered the game.

After a leadoff single from Brandon Trammel, he moved to second via a passed ball and crossed home plate after an RBI single from Bryson Hill.

The Rafters walked once in the seventh and once in the eighth but were both left on base.

In the ninth, the Woodchucks brought in their fourth reliever, Chandler Poell. He walked Ben Swords (Webster) and Mckinely Erves (La Grange) and after a wild pitch they both moved into scoring position.

Weston Eberly (Columbia) hit a ball right back to Poell who bobbled and was late on the throw home.

With the score tied at 1-1, Lance Gardiner (Saddleback) stepped up to the plate with runners at the corners. After another wild pitch, Erves raced home and was mobbed by teammates as the Rafters won their first game via walk-off fashion. Rivera earned the win for the Rafters.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters next game is against the Wisconsin Woodchucks tomorrow Monday, June 7th, at 6:05 PM at Witter Field. 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.