Rafters Blast Not Enough to Finish Mallards

July 3, 2018 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. - The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (15-20) fell to the Madison Mallards (28-8) by two runs for the second straight night. Down by five after five innings, the cranberry and gold came within two runs and forced Madison to bring out their closer Trace Norkus to save it in the ninth.

Madison started the scoring in the third. Trevor Schwecke hit a two-run home run to left after Garrett Keuber reached on an error. Another Mallards run scored in fourth from an RBI single. In the fifth, Madison plated two more off a single and a double.

In the sixth, the Rafters began their comeback attempt. Jordan Wiley (Kalamazoo College) scored on a wild pitch from starter Cole O'Conner to start it off. Garret Keuber and Trevor Schwecke struck again for Madison with RBI base hits for two more runs in the Mallard's half of the sixth. Wisconsin Rapids continued their uphill battle as Jack-Thomas Wold (UNLV) scored on an RBI sac fly from Matt Schmidt (Michigan). Wold was not finished. With two outs in the eighth, Ethan Stringer (Louisville) worked a walk and Ty Duvall (Vanderbilt) smacked a base hit to center field. Wold then crushed a ball to right field for a three-run blast and pull the Rafters to within two 7-5.

Trace Norkus then came in and allowed only a base hit to Jake Dunham (Northern Illinois). After the hit, Norkus retired four in a row between the eighth and ninth to hold off Wisconsin Rapids.

Jake Cook (1-4, 8.20 ERA) suffered the loss. Cole O'Conner (1-0, 3.24) earned the win while Norkus (2-0, 0.00 ERA) collected his tenth save of the season.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters start the second half of the season tomorrow facing the Green Bay Bullfrogs in an Independence Day matchup. First pitch from Witter Field is at 3:05 pm CT.

Jack-Thomas Wold of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters is greeted at third

Northwoods League Stories from July 3, 2018

• Spiders End First Half with a Bang - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
• Matthews Strikes out 9 Batters, Rox Comeback Falls Short - St. Cloud Rox
• Bullfrogs Swept by Woodchucks in Home Series - Green Bay Rockers
• Huskies Fall to Honkers in First Half Finale - Duluth Huskies
• Woodchucks Win Offensive Battle and Sweep Bullfrogs - Wausau Woodchucks
• Rafters Blast Not Enough to Finish Mallards - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
• Rivets Game Against Kalamazoo Postponed to Later Date - Rockford Rivets
• Robinson, Devermann Lead Honkers Past Huskies - Rochester Honkers
• O'Connor Dominates in 7-5 Win - Madison Mallards
• Tuesday's Game Postponed Due to Unplayable Field Conditions - Willmar Stingers
• Rafters Return to Madison Hunting for a Split - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
• Former Eau Claire Express Player Nate Orf Debuts with the Brewers - Northwoods
• Bullfrogs Fall to Woodchucks in First 2018 Meeting - Green Bay Rockers
• Mallards Bullpen Brings Home Third in a Row - Madison Mallards
• Rivets Can't Recover from Early Deficit, Lose 7-3 - Rockford Rivets
• Stephens Homers, Rox Fall to Larks - St. Cloud Rox
• Rafters Drop Close Game to Mallards - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
• Honkers Stun Huskies as Duluth Comes up One Run Short - Duluth Huskies
• Stingers Win Fifth Straight, Defeat Express - Willmar Stingers

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