Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wausau Woodchucks (16-3-1) continued their Northwoods League dominance at Witter Field Friday night, winning 8-3 against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (5-17). It was the Woodchucks seventh straight win as they took down the Rafters for the second straight game behind a well-rounded attack. The Rafters bullpen allowed just one earned run in 4.1 innings behind Tyler Pechetti and Tony Torres while Eric Harper had a three-hit game, but the Woodchucks one-upped them throughout the night.

The Woodchucks were the first on the board, scoring one in the top of the first before adding four more in the second inning against Rafters starter Tristin Crusenberry (1-5).

In the bottom of the second, the Rafters responded with a pair of their own runs, cutting the deficit to 5-2 on Harrison Garrett and Mike Maanum’s RBIs.

The Rafters once again cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth, making it 5-3 on Kerim Orucevic’s bases-loaded walk against Wausau starter Zach Wyatt (5-1).

That run came back for the Woodchucks in the top of the fifth thanks to another RBI off Rafters’ Crusenberry before Wisconsin Rapids turned to Pechetti out of the bullpen.

Pechetti kept the game 6-3 into the seventh, but in the top of the inning it became 8-3 with another couple of runs from the Woodchucks.

The Rafters finally got to the Wausau bullpen in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t any easier than Wausau’s Wyatt, who posted his fourth straight quality start. The Woodchucks bullpen of Nate Ross and Tanner Goswick went the final three innings nine up, nine down to close it out for the Wausau win.

The Rafters loss officially eliminated them from playoff contention, but they will look to continue player and coach development the rest of the way. The Rafters head to Green Bay for their next game, Saturday at 1:05 P.M. The game will be broadcast for video on NWL+ and for radio on WFHR 97.5 FM/1320 AM.