Madison, Wis. – Another down-to-the-wire game went the opposing way for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (6-20) Wednesday evening as they fell 6-3 to the Madison Mallards (17-7-1). The Rafters led 3-0 early in the game, but the Mallards offense rallied for six unanswered to finish the game with the win. Rafters starter Jace Barajas went 3.2 innings allowing just one run while Tony Torres closed it with two perfect frames, but the offense struggled as Kerim Orucevic was the only batter with an RBI for Wisconsin Rapids.

After back-to-back scoreless innings, the Rafters scored all three of their runs in the top of the third, taking a 3-0 lead on the Mallards. Orucevic started things with an RBI single before Royce Clayton Jr. stole home on a throw down to second. Madden Ocko finished the scoring with a single and intentionally got caught between first and second, allowing Orucevic to score the third run of the inning off Mallards starter Eamonn Mulhern.

The Mallards responded in the bottom of the third with Will Johannes scoring on a fielding error in center field by Wisconsin Rapids’ Royce Clayton Jr., his first error of the season, which made it 3-1.

Another run came across in the bottom of the fifth for the Mallards thanks to MJ Sweeney’s sac fly off Rafters reliever Justin Battle, cutting the lead to 3-2.

The big inning for the Mallards was the sixth, and it was one to forget for Rafters reliever Jack Wiessinger (0-1). In the inning, Madison scored four runs to make it 6-3; two on RBI hits, another on a fielder’s choice and one on an error.

Tony Torres took over in the seventh, but the damage had already been done. His two perfect innings weren’t enough to let the Rafters make a comeback.

The Rafters had a chance in the top of the ninth, seeing runners reach first and second, but Mallards reliever Keaton Fenn was able to strike out Harrison Garrett to finish the game and earn the save (3).

The win was the Mallards’ seventh in a row, closing the gap with the Woodchucks for the subdivision lead to just one game. The Rafters will get back to work at home Thursday evening as they take on the Lakeshore Chinooks for a two-game series. The first game is scheduled for first pitch at 6:35 P.M. and will be broadcast for video on NWL+ and for radio on WFHR 97.5 FM/1320 AM.