Wisconsin Rapids earned 11 strikeouts and their eighth win over Green Bay

Wisconsin Rapids, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (37-33) sweep the Green Bay Booyah (25-45) in a 3-2 pitchers’ duel on a gorgeous Thursday evening at Witter Field.

Wisconsin Rapids for the tenth time in the 12 games played in August, scored in the first inning. Lance Gardiner (Saddleback) led off with a single. He stole second, advanced to third on a flyout, and scored on a sacrifice fly from EJ Exposito (Long Island).

Colin Kiernan (Kean) took the ball for the Rafters and began his start with a strikeout. The right-hander struck out six Booyah in the first three innings, including all three batters faced in the top of the third.

The Booyah earned two runs in the fourth inning off two doubles. Green Bay got runners on base in the fifth and sixth, all were stranded. Kiernan finished with nine strikeouts through six innings, his longest outing of the season and most strikeouts in an appearance.

“I focused on getting first-pitch strikes, to help extend myself later into the game,” said Kiernan “Finishing off my summer strong was great, and excited to work off this start.”

In the bottom of the sixth, the Rafters tied up the game. McKinley Erves (LaGrange) notched his second hit of the game, stole second, and was driven in by fellow Panther Cael Chatham (LaGrange) via a double.

The Booyah bullpen entered for the first time in the eighth. Gardiner once again began an inning with a single. He moved to second on a wild pitch and third with a groundout. Exposito skied a ball into left field to score Gardiner, who tagged from third to bring the score to 3-2. Exposito now has 47 RBI and finished with seven in the two games against Green Bay.

Tanner Chafin (LaGrange) worked a scoreless seventh and eighth, earning the win in his third appearance in four days. Nick Torres (Long Island) worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the second consecutive night and now has two saves as a Rafter.

Wisconsin Rapids’ final road game is tomorrow August 13th in Wausau. The Woodchucks and Rafters matchup for the eleventh time this season, with first pitch at 6:35 p.m. Coverage, is 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