Both teams combined for 25 hits

Madison, WI- The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (22-22) lost by one run in a back-and-forth Tuesday night matchup at Warner Park against the Madison Mallards (21-20) by the score of 7-6.

The Mallards hit three home runs, including a walk-off two-run home run.

The first long ball came in the first inning, a two-run shot from Drake Baldwin. Wisconsin Rapids responded in the second with two RBI singles, one from EJ Exposito (Long Island) and the other from Weston Eberly (Columbia) to tie up the game.

Rafters’ starter Jack Gonzales (Dixie State) bounced back for a clean third but allowed two runs on three hits in the fourth. Gonzales allowed only one baserunner in his fifth and final inning.

A second homer was added by Madison in the sixth, a solo blast from Michael Fuhrman.

Down 5-2, Wisconsin Rapids loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh. Exposito elevated a ball high in the air towards left-center, it was misjudged by the Mallards outfield and dropped. All runners were going, and the score was knotted up. Exposito was brought home after Jacob Hinderleider (Davidson), struck a double to right field, and the Rafters took a 6-5 lead in a four-run inning.

The next two innings saw the tying run in scoring position for Madison. Nick Torres (Long Island) ended the threat in both instances.

The Mallards brought up the top of the lineup in the ninth, while the Rafters put in closer Brayden Bonner (Dixie State). Bonner looking for his sixth save of the season, allowed a single and then the game-winning home run to Alex Iadisernia.

The Rafters return home to play a doubleheader against the Fond Du Lac Dock Spiders. First pitch of game one is at 11:35 am, while game two will begin at 6:35 PM. Both games will air on WFHR AM 1320 and 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