By Lance Roth

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. — The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (16-38) struck early with a five-run first inning, highlighted by Bennett Crerar’s grand slam, while another strong outing from the pitching staff carried the Rafters to a 5-2 victory over the Duluth Huskies (21-32).

The Rafters offense totaled six hits on the afternoon, with Crerar providing the biggest swing of the game. Wisconsin Rapids erupted for all five of its runs in the opening inning after Quinn Falish and Nolan Stevens singled back-to-back to begin the frame.

Gunnar Dillard worked a walk to load the bases before Danny Gavin followed with an RBI single to give the Rafters an early lead. Crerar then launched a grand slam, his second home run of the season, putting Wisconsin Rapids in front 5-0.

While the offense did all of its damage in the opening inning, the Rafters pitching staff made the lead stand the rest of the way. Colton LaFave earned the win in his final game of the season, tossing five innings while allowing two runs on five hits and striking out five. LaFave threw a season-high 102 pitches in the outing.

After LaFave exited, Mikey Hotinski and Casey Wambach combined to shut the door. Hotinski worked a scoreless sixth inning with two strikeouts before Wambach earned his first save of the season by throwing three scoreless innings, allowing no hits while striking out one. The Rafters bullpen combined for four scoreless innings to preserve the three-run victory.

Duluth chipped away at the deficit in the third inning when Waylon Walsh delivered an RBI single to score Maddox Monsour, cutting the lead to 5-1. The Huskies added another run in the fifth with Kayden Cambell and Anothny Cepeda sending back-to-back singles to left field.

The Rafters will look to build on Thursday’s victory as they continue their homestand. Wisconsin Rapids will play host to the Lakeshore Chinooks, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Friday night at Historic Witter Field.