Wausau, Wis. – A pair of home runs couldn’t propel the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (9-26) to a win Friday night as they lost 21-5 against the Wausau Woodchucks (24-9-1). The Woodchucks bolted ahead early and held onto the lead with an all-around dominant game. With the win, Wausau now needs just one win, or a Madison Mallards loss, to clinch the playoffs. Each of them are playing their final games tomorrow. Wisconsin Rapids’ River Lindsey and Landon Gaz each had multi-run homers, but the pitching staff struggled with location and couldn’t handle the Woodchucks bats.
The scoring started in the bottom of the first for the Woodchucks, seeing seven runs cross the plate, all on the line of Wisconsin Rapids starter Trevor Moeck (2-3). He allowed six walks and recorded just one out before handing it over to Rafters reliever AJ Buenaseda, who finished the inning for Wisconsin Rapids.
Rafters pitcher Seth Spencer was the starting designated hitter for Wisconsin Rapids thanks to a depleted roster, but he singled in his first plate appearance as part of a two-hit game and came around to score on River Lindsey’s two-run homer off Woodchucks starter Grant Parson (4-0) in the top of the third which made it 7-2.
Wisconsin Rapids’ Buenaseda fired a scoreless second, but he was tagged for three runs in the bottom of the third as the Rafters went down 10-2.
Kenny Schulrz relieved Wisconsin Rapids’ Buenaseda in the fourth but after two shutout innings, he was tagged for five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Only one of those runs was earned but made it a 15-2 game.
Following with more offense, the Woodchucks took on Rafters reliever Jack Wiesinger in the bottom of the seventh and added another three runs, in part thanks to Noah Malone’s two-run homer which made it 18-2.
The Rafters saw Landon Gaz find a three-run homer in the top of the eighth off Woodchucks reliever Paul Nuetzel, but that only cut the deficit to 18-5.
Another three runs scored for the Woodchucks in the bottom of the eighth off Wisconsin Rapids’ Wiessinger, extending the lead to 21-5.
Josh Steger relieved Wausau’s Nuetzel in the top of the ninth, and despite an error and single, the Rafters couldn’t manage a run.
The loss was the Rafters’ third in a row after dropping both games against Fond du Lac beforehand. The game was also the Woodchucks’ 19th straight win at home, adding to their already franchise record. The two teams will rematch Saturday for the regular season finale, with a playoff spot on the line for the Woodchucks. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 P.M. and the game will be broadcast for video on NWL+ and for radio on WFHR 97.5 FM/1320 AM.