Wisconsin Rapids finish 8-4 against Madison this season  

Wisconsin Rapids, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (27-31) blanked the Madison Mallards (28-28) 3-0, as the Mallards stranded six runners in scoring position. The Rafters improve to 5-1 against the Mallards at Witter Field this season.

The three runs scored by Wisconsin Rapids came in the first inning. With two runners aboard, EJ Exposito (Long Island) struck a ball deep over the left-field wall. It was his second home run of the season after sending one out last night. Exposito went 5 for 6 in the home and home series against the Mallards with 5 RBI.

Ben Schoneman (Colorado School of Mines) threw 6.2 innings scoreless in his ninth start of the season. The right-hander struck out five batters and left six runners on base.

“Getting the changeup out and away from left-handers worked out tonight, and the defense made plays behind me,” said Schoneman.

Hunter Waldis (Seton Hall) gained the final out in the seventh inning after Sterling Hayes (Creighton) threw out a Mallard at the plate. Waldis worked a scoreless eighth and has not given up a run since June 19th.

Brayden Bonner (Dixie State) entered in the ninth. He earned his seventh save of the season and 25th as a Rafter.

“It has been a great ride,” said Bonner. “It has been really fun playing out here for the last three years, making relationships, and playing in front of these fans.”

The Rafters take on the Fond Du Lac Dock Spiders at Witter Field tomorrow July 31st. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. After the final out of tomorrow’s game, fireworks will light up the night sky, presented by Waste Management.

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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