Madison, Wis. – The comeback attempt from the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (6-19) came up just short Tuesday evening as they lost 9-7 to the Madison Mallards (16-7-1) on the road at Warner Park. The Rafters trailed 6-1 early on, and although they eventually tied it 7-7, a two-run eighth from the Mallards was enough for the win. The Rafters saw four, one-run innings from Tyler Pechetti and a pair of shutout frames from Ashton Poole while Kerim Orucevic, Jake Beauchaine and Hiroto Kobayashi each had a double and single, although they couldn’t produce enough for the Rafters to claim victory.

Wisconsin Rapids actually took the early lead, scoring a run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly from Madden Ocko off Madison starter Luke Ross, but that 1-0 advantage quickly dissolved.

In the bottom of the first, the Mallards scored six runs, capped off with Will Johannes’ three-run shot off Rafters starter Seth Spencer which made it 6-1 Madison at the end of the inning.

The Rafters followed with a three-run top of the second, sending home one on Kobayashi’s RBI double off Madison’s Ross and more on a two-RBI double from Orucevic off Madison reliever Chase Baker, cutting the deficit to 6-4.

Madison built the lead back up to 7-4 in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly off Wisconsin Rapids’ Tyler Pechetti, but the Rafters worked the run back in the top of the third on Kobayashi’s RBI single off Mallards reliever Noah Musolf.

Entering the fourth inning down two, the Rafters tied it up 7-7 with a two-RBI single from Landon Gaz off Madison’s Musolf.

The two teams’ pitching staffs turned it around from there, with the next run not coming across until the eighth.

After Ashton Poole finished his two innings, the Rafters turned the ball over to reliever Landon Dessart (0-2). Although he didn’t allow a hit, Dessart walked four batters to send home the go-ahead run before a defensive error made it 9-7 Mallards.

The Rafters kept fighting in the top of the ninth with a one-out single from Jake Beauchaine, but Chayce Osterhaus (2-0) finished the game for the Mallards with a flyout and groundout to earn the win.

The Rafters are now 1-4 at Warner Park this year and the Mallards control the season series 8-3 after the win. Wisconsin Rapids will play Madison just one more time this year, taking the Mallards on once again at the Duck Pond Wednesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 P.M. and the game will be broadcast for video on NWL+ and for radio on WFHR 97.5 FM/1320 AM.