The Rafters have lost a season high four games in a row.

MEQUON, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (22-25) could not hold on to an early lead, losing 3-2 to the Lakeshore Chinooks (22-25). The Rafters were swept by the Chinooks for the second consecutive two-game series.

The Rafters jumped on the Chinooks early. Sterling Hayes (Creighton) led off the ballgame with a double. McKinley Erves (LaGrange) would later line a double down the right field line scoring Hayes. Marco Castillo (Claremont McKenna) added an RBI single up the middle to finish off a two run first inning.

Devin Rivera (Villanova) was excellent in his first career start. He threw four innings of shutout baseball striking out five Chinooks on just two hits. Donavan Brandl (Wisconsin-Whitewater) allowed just one earned run over two innings of relief. However, the Chinooks would cut a 2-0 lead in half with an unearned run scoring on a fielders’ choice in the sixth.

Lakeshore took a 3-2 lead in a two run bottom of the seventh courtesy of two walks, one infield base hit and an error. Zach Bennett (Central Florida) pitched the Rafters out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh before twirling a scoreless eighth inning.

Wisconsin Rapids loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with three consecutive runners reaching with two outs. Weston Eberly (Columbia) and Blake Mann (St. Mary’s) had back-to-back base hits but the Rafters struck out to end the game.

Hayes, Erves and Mann all had two hit days for the Rafters. The team left nine runners on base over the course of the game.

The Rafters continue their four-game road trip in Wausau tomorrow facing their rivals the Wisconsin Woodchucks. Rafter Wyatt Thompson (Chapman, 3.94 ERA) and Woodchuck Dylan MacCallum (Pepperdine, 2.31 ERA) are the probable pitchers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM and the game can be heard 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