Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (7-15) couldn’t get back in the win column Wednesday night as they fell 3-1 against the Madison Mallards (14-7). The Rafters loss was disheartening, but they continued to show bright spots, especially in the pitching department, allowing just three runs to one of the Northwoods League’s top offenses. Seth Spencer (0-2) allowed just two runs over 5.2 innings in his start, while Jafet Martinez allowed one hit in two no-run innings.

The Mallards were the first to score thanks to Dominic Jacoby, who smashed a base hit to right-center field and drove in Cooper Malamazian. That was the only run the Mallards could muster, taking a 1-0 lead through two.

From there, the pitching took over and the Rafters had no answer for Madison’s starting pitcher, Michael Yeager. The righty cruised through 18 batters, striking out six without allowing a hit in five innings of work.

Seth Spencer kept the Rafters in the ballgame even with Yeager’s dominance, with the lefty posting a Rafters season-best 5.2 IP, allowing only two runs. That second run came after he allowed a two-out single and was relieved by Rafters pitcher Trevor Moeck. The Rafters reliever allowed the inherited runner to come home, along with one more, on Noah Sheffield’s two-RBI double to make it a 3-0 game.

The Rafters didn’t get their first run of the game until the ninth thanks to JJ Garcia’s RBI single, but Mallards closer Blake Barker was able to finish the game with the tying runner at the plate and earned the save.

Noah Ruiz continued to be a star for Wisconsin Rapids, going 2-3 with a double and reaching base four times. His batting average rose to .347 and he remains atop the RBI leaderboard in the Northwoods League with 30.

Overall, the Mallards’ pitching staff was the difference maker in the game, allowing only four hits while striking out 11 Rafters batters.

The Rafters sit alone in fifth place in the Great Lakes West after the loss, 4.5 games back of the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders. Thursday, the Rafters will head on the road for the first of three straight games against the Madison Mallards. Friday night’s game against the Mallards has first pitch scheduled for 6:35 P.M. and will be broadcast for video on NWL+ and for radio on WFHR 97.5 FM/1320 AM.