By Lance Roth

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. — Rafters (1-4) shut out by Mallards (3-4) in 8-0 loss at Witter Field on Sunday afternoon as Madison used a dominant pitching performance and a five-run sixth inning to take control and cruise to the win.

Madison’s pitching staff held Wisconsin Rapids to just one hit while striking out nine and allowing only three baserunners throughout the contest. 

Ckyler Tengler earned the win after allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out eight across seven scoreless innings. Eamonn Mulhern followed with two hitless innings to complete the shutout.

The Mallards struck for a pair of runs in the third inning and maintained a 2-0 lead into the middle innings before breaking the game open in the sixth. 

Madison opened the frame with a single and three walks, turning the early traffic into a five-run rally, stretching the lead to 7-0 and putting the game out of reach.

A run in the ninth capped the scoring for the Mallards.

Wisconsin Rapids starter Tristin Crusenberry worked five innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out six to keep the Rafters within reach early. 

Blaine Davis was charged with the loss after Madison’s sixth-inning surge swung the game firmly in the Mallards’ favor.

Zachary Gingrich accounted for the Rafters’ lone hit with a double.

Jonah Weathers paced the Mallards offense with three hits and two RBIs, while Jack Gold also added three hits in the win.

Wisconsin Rapids will look to bounce back when it travels to Warner Park on June 1 to close out its series with Madison. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT.