Wisconsin Rapids outhit Madison 14 to 10

Madison, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (26-31) were outslugged in a back and forth 11-7 loss to the Madison Mallards (28-27) on a cloudy evening at Warner Park.

The Rafters hit the ground running. Four hits plated three runs in the first inning, Couper Cornblum (Wichita State) had an RBI single, and Addie Burrow (Virginia) chopped a ball up the middle into centerfield to score two.

After Rafters’ starter Nathan Hemmerling (Lakeland) threw a scoreless nine-pitch first, the Mallards responded with four runs on four hits in the second. Madison tacked on two in the third, on a two-run home run. Hemmerling finished the third and his outing with his second strikeout.

Wisconsin Rapids evened up the score in the top of the fourth. A McKinley Erves (LaGrange) single, Cornblum walk, and E.J. Exposito (Long Island) sacrifice fly, made it 6-6.

Madison’s Alex Iadisernia grabbed the lead right back. The left-fielder crushed a three-run home run deep over the right-field wall, his now league-leading tenth long ball of the season.

The Rafters attained bases loaded, in the fifth with no outs. Two flyouts and a pickoff ended the inning with no runs. Wisconsin Rapids left two on base in the next three innings.

Nick Torres (Long Island) in relief allowed one run in two innings of work while Colin Kiernan (Kean) tossed a scoreless eighth for the Rafters who trailed 11-6 entering the ninth.

E.J. Exposito began the inning with a blast over the left-field wall. It was Exposito’s first home run of the season, 28th RBI, and capped off a 3 for 3 night. Wisconsin Rapids only earned one more baserunner.

The Rafters’ final matchup against the Mallards in 2021 comes tomorrow July 30th at Witter Field. First pitch is at 6:35 PM, and it is Ho-Chunk Gaming Nekoosa Military Appreciation Night which features a military jersey auction to benefit the Never Forgotten Honor Flight. Coverage is 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’ 27th 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