McKinley Erves had 2 RBI and robbed a potential extra base hit

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (16-13) now have five wins against the Madison Mallards (11-16) this season after a 5-2 victory.

The Rafters got off to a strong start after a 1-2-3 in the top of the first inning from starter Ben Vespi (Central Florida), and Marco Castillo (Claremont McKenna) in the bottom of the first, hit an RBI single.

After Vespi retired the first seven batters, a Mallards single set up Cam Cratic, who delivered a two-run homer to take a 2-1 lead.

Wisconsin Rapids left four runners on base from the third to the fifth inning. In the sixth, a single from Couper Cornblum (Wichita State), a double from Sterling Hayes (Creighton), and Weston Eberly (Columbia) advancing on a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Blake Mann (St. Mary’s (CA)) brought home two with an RBI double, and McKinley Erves (La Grange) cleared the remaining two runners in Eberly and Mann with a single.

Ben Vespi’s final inning of work was the sixth, he earned the win and totaled eight strikeouts.

Donovan Brandl (Wisconsin-Whitewater) threw a scoreless seventh but allowed the first two base runners in the eighth, it set up Cam Cratic with a chance to tie. He lifted a ball to right field, but Erves jumped up and robbed a potential extra-base hit.

“As soon as he hit it, I said you’ve got to be kidding me,” said Erves. “I tracked it down in case it stayed in the park and jumped as high as I could, and it paid off.”

Brandl finished the eighth, and Brayden Bonner (Dixie State) completed the ninth, earning his fourth save of the season and 22nd of his Rafter career.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters head to Madison to play the Mallards, tomorrow Tuesday, June 29th. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM.  You can listen to the action on WFHR AM 1320.

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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