Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (2-3) dropped another rough game Saturday night, falling 17-2 to the Madison Mallards (3-2) on the road. The home Mallards had the offense early and kept it rolling through the end. Rafters catcher Junior Barajas stayed hot for Wisconsin Rapids, hitting a two-run homer, but he was one of just two Rafters with a hit.

The Mallards were able to score 10 runs in the first inning, all on the line of Rafters starter Kenny Schultz (0-2), picking up eight separate RBI hits to make it 10-0. Trevor Moeck took over for Schultz with just one out in the first, and while he got out of the inning, Madison added another run in the bottom of the second to make it 11-0.

Ashton Poole relieved Wisconsin Rapids’ Moeck in the fourth, but allowed one run in that inning and another in the fifth to make it 13-0 Madison.

The Mallards managed one run in the sixth as well off Rafters reliever Justin Battle, extending the lead to 14-0.

After five scoreless innings from Charlie West (2-1), Madison had a shutout sixth from Jordy Lopez, but it wasn’t all roses for him. In the top of the seventh, the Rafters finally got on the board with Barajas’ two-run homer to right field, cutting the deficit to 14-2.

The Mallards responded in the bottom of the eighth with three runs of their own off Rafters’ Battle, and Madison reliever Jase Schueller finished the game with two perfect innings to lock down the 17-2 victory.

Following the loss, the Rafters are now one game back of first place in the subdivision while the Mallards are now tied atop the Great Lakes West. The Rafters return to Wisconsin Rapids for a rematch with the Mallards on Sunday afternoon with first pitch at 3:05 P.M. The game will be broadcast for video on NWL+ and for radio on WFHR 97.5 FM/1320 AM.