Bullfrogs Blow Early Lead in Tough Defeat to Rafters
July 4, 2018 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release
Wisconsin Rapids, WI. - The visiting Green Bay Bullfrogs (12-25) got off to a scorching 5-0 start in the first inning; however, the host Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (16-20) posted 11 unanswered runs from the second inning through the eighth in an 11-7 comeback triumph at Witter Field Wednesday afternoon. The Bullfrogs dropped their sixth consecutive game, falling to 0-1 in the second half of the season.
The Bullfrogs offense jumped on the Rafters immediately in the opening frame, tallying five runs on six hits. The offensive explosion began with three straight hits from the top of the Green Bay batting order, ending with a RBI single from Preston Pavlica (Junior, Grand Canyon Univ.) to make it a 1-0 game. A run-scoring ground out from Andre Antone (Freshman, UC Irvine) extended the advantage out to 2-0. The Frogs then compiled three straight RBI singles from Cooper Morrison (Sophomore, UC Davis), Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo (Freshman, Navarro College) and Brian Davis (Freshman, Gordon State College) to stretch the lead out to 5-0.
Green Bay was held to just three hits for the remainder of the contest and held without a hit until the eighth after the conclusion of the first inning. Wisconsin Rapids got on the board in the second frame, scoring two straight runs on wild pitches with two outs to cut the deficit down to 5-2.
In the third inning, the Rafters posted a huge five-run rally to grab their first lead of the contest at 7-5. A RBI walk began the scoring surge followed by a RBI single by Jake Dunham to trim the margin down to 5-4. Mitch Mallek then drove home the tying run on a sacrifice fly to complete the comeback and knot the score at 5-5. Payton Robertson then laced a two-run single to put the Rafters ahead by two.
Wisconsin Rapids soon added four insurance runs in the sixth, seven and eighth innings to push the margin out to 11-5. Brody Wofford started the stretch with a RBI single in the sixth before the Rafters scored three unanswered runs on wild pitches to make it a six-run ballgame.
The Bullfrogs showed some offensive life in the ninth inning scoring a pair of two-out runs on a Rafters error to make it a four-run contest, but it would not be enough as Wisconsin Rapids held on for the victory.
Blaise Maris (Sophomore, Florida Tech) went 2-for-4 with one run scored to lead the Green Bay offensive attack. Pavlica finished 2-for-5 with a RBI, while Morrison contributed a 2-for-4 effort scoring two runs.
Rapids starting pitcher Gareth Stroh earned the win, improving to 2-1. Bullfrogs starter Will Shirah (Freshman, Georgia Tech) took the loss, falling to 1-2. Eli Baez (Sophomore, St. Bonaventure) posted a solid outing in relief, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts through three frames of work.
Both teams return to action tomorrow evening to conclude the home-and-home series. First pitch is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start from Joannes Stadium as the Bullfrogs look to split the two-game set.
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