By Luc Carter

WAUSAU, Wis. — The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters jumped ahead early, built a comfortable
cushion with timely hitting, and survived a late Wausau rally to secure an 8-5 victory over the
Woodchucks on Sunday afternoon at Athletic Park.

The Rafters never trailed after striking first in the opening inning and used contributions
throughout the lineup to collect 10 hits in the win. Wisconsin Rapids scored in five different
innings, leaning on timely contact, aggressive baserunning, and a strong performance from its
pitching staff to earn the victory.

The tone was set immediately in the first inning.

Designated hitter Nolan Stevens worked a leadoff walk and quickly moved around the bases
when Gunnar Dillard lined a double to right field. Stevens came around to score on Dillard’s
extra-base hit, giving the Rafters an early 1-0 advantage.

After Wausau tied the game in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Sawyer Tolk, Wisconsin
Rapids answered with one of its biggest rallies of the afternoon in the fourth. Quinn Falish started the inning with a walk, and Dillard and Aidan Thaxton followed with back-to-back singles to put pressure on the Woodchucks. After a sacrifice fly attempt nearly resulted
in a double play, Bennett Crerar delivered an RBI single to bring home Dillard. A throwing error
on the play allowed another run to score, and Connor Harvie followed with an RBI double to
extend the Rafters’ lead to 4-1.

Rafters starter Spencer Webb tossed 3 innings just giving up 1 earned run on 2 hits and no walks.
A great start for Webb as he continues to return to form from injury.

In the bottom of the 4th Brennan Baker took over on the mound and Wausau answered quickly
when Jackson Petsche launched a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning, but Wisconsin
Rapids continued to add on.

Falish drove in Stevens with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, giving the Rafters a 5-2 advantage.
Then, in the sixth, the offense broke the game open.

Kedren Kinzie and Crerar started the inning with consecutive singles, and Harvie worked a walk
to load the bases. Esteban Olazaba delivered an RBI single, Stevens added a sacrifice fly, and an
error on the Woodchucks allowed another run to cross the plate. By the end of the frame,
Wisconsin Rapids had pushed its lead to 8-2.

The Rafters’ pitching staff kept Wausau from putting together a sustained rally for most of the
afternoon.

Wausau continued to battle late, cutting into the deficit in the sixth before mounting its biggest
threat in the eighth. The Woodchucks loaded the bases after a pair of singles, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. Peyton
Firgens brought home a run with a single, and Sawyer Tolk followed with a bases-loaded hit-by-
pitch to make it an 8-5 game.

But Wisconsin Rapids’ bullpen held firm. Isaac Mitsdarffer entered with the bases loaded and
escaped further damage, keeping the Rafters ahead entering the ninth.
Casey Wambach then closed the door in the final inning. After allowing a leadoff walk,
Wambach struck out Noah Malone, retired Max Soliz on a fly ball, and induced a groundout
from Lane Walton to secure his second save of the season.

Dillard led the Rafters offensively, finishing 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.
Crerar added two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored, while Harvie contributed a double and an
RBI. Stevens reached base multiple times and scored twice while adding an RBI.

This was the 4th time the Rafters have defeated the Woodchucks this season which is tied for the
most with Madison for wins over the Woodchucks. An impressive win with both the offense and
pitching showing up for Wisconsin Rapids.