WAUSAU, Wis. – Sometimes in the great game of baseball, it is just not a team or an individual’s night.  Unfortunately for the Rafters, it was not their night tonight, as the Wausau Woodchucks defeated Wisconsin Rapids 12-3.  

The Rafters were retired in order in the top half of the first.  However, the Rafters were able to get on the board in the home half of the first via a two-run shot off the bat of Hunter Dorraugh to take a 2-0 lead.  Both teams were held scoreless in the second, as Rafters starter threw a scoreless home half.  The Rats bats woke up in the top of third, as Colin Tuft left the yard for his first home of the season to put the Rafters on the board, 2-1.  Two batters later, Ben Ross left the yard for his ninth homer of the year, as this two-run homer put the Rats up 3-2. 

The Woodchucks would retake the lead in the home half of the third with a three-run homer from Ryan Sepede and a solo shot from Chase Hug to take a 6-3 lead.  Nolet exited the game for the Rafters to conclude the third.  In the fourth, Rafters reliever Jake Dahle gave up another solo homer to the Woodchucks to put them ahead 7-3. 

The “big” inning of the night for the Woodchucks came in their home half of the fifth inning.  A bases loaded walk put the Woodchucks up 8-3.  A Ryan Sepede RBI sacrifice fly gave the Woodchucks a 9-3 lead.  However, Wausau busted it open with a three-run Chase Hug homer, his second of the night, making it a 12-3 Woodchucks lead. 

Cody Urban made his Rafters debut in the sixth inning.  He retired six straight batters in the sixth and seventh innings, a bright spot for Wisconsin Rapids.  Tanner Chafin entered the game for the Rats in the home half of the eighth, as he struck out two out of the three batters he faced.  Cam Nolet received the loss for the Rafters, as Nate Madej received the win for the Woodchucks. 

The Rafters (37-9) will go to Madison tomorrow night to play the Mallards (22-23) at 6:08 pm.  Catch all the action on the Home of Rafters Baseball, 1320 AM/97.5 FM WFHR, with the Radio Voice of the Rafters, Brett Loftis. 

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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’ 28th 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 280 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 (NYM), 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 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. 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.