Rafters Defeat Mallards, Win Third Straight Game
June 28, 2021 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI - The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (16-13) now have five wins against the Madison Mallards (11-16) this season after a 5-2 victory.
The Rafters got off to a strong start after a 1-2-3 in the top of the first inning from starter Ben Vespi (Central Florida), and Marco Castillo (Claremont McKenna) in the bottom of the first, hit an RBI single.
After Vespi retired the first seven batters, a Mallards single set up Cam Cratic, who delivered a two-run homer to take a 2-1 lead.
Wisconsin Rapids left four runners on base from the third to the fifth inning. In the sixth, a single from Couper Cornblum (Wichita State), a double from Sterling Hayes (Creighton), and Weston Eberly (Columbia) advancing on a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Blake Mann (St. Mary's (CA)) brought home two with an RBI double, and McKinley Erves (La Grange) cleared the remaining two runners in Eberly and Mann with a single.
Ben Vespi's final inning of work was the sixth, he earned the win and totaled eight strikeouts.
Donovan Brandl (Wisconsin-Whitewater) threw a scoreless seventh but allowed the first two base runners in the eighth, it set up Cam Cratic with a chance to tie. He lifted a ball to right field, but Erves jumped up and robbed a potential extra-base hit.
"As soon as he hit it, I said you've got to be kidding me," said Erves. "I tracked it down in case it stayed in the park and jumped as high as I could, and it paid off."
Brandl finished the eighth, and Brayden Bonner (Dixie State) completed the ninth, earning his fourth save of the season and 22nd of his Rafter career.
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters head to Madison to play the Mallards, tomorrow Tuesday, June 29th. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM. You can listen to the action on WFHR AM 1320.
Northwoods League Stories from June 28, 2021
- Bombers Score Season-High 11 Runs in Win over Rockford - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Jackrabbits Rain on Growlers Parade with Late Inning Surge - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Rox' Historic Winning Streak Ends in Eau Claire - St. Cloud Rox
- Mallards Fall at Rapids - Madison Mallards
- Woodchucks, Booyah to Restart After Delay - Wausau Woodchucks
- Rafters Defeat Mallards, Win Third Straight Game - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Kingfish Drop Fast-Paced Game against Growlers - Kenosha Kingfish
- Mallards Head to Wisconsin Rapids to Face Rafters - Madison Mallards
- Rox Project S.A.V.E. Foundation Awards $10,000 in Student Scholarships - St. Cloud Rox
- Booyah Ready to Hit the Road Again - Green Bay Rockers
- La Crosse Drops 4th Straight, Falls to Mankato 7-3 - La Crosse Loggers
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