
Rafters Overcome Defensive Struggles to Sink Mallards
June 11, 2016 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release
Madison, Wis. - In a game that was characterized by solid pitching and poor defense across both sides, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (7-4) outlasted the Madison Mallards (8-4) on Saturday night at Warner Park. Despite committing a season-high five errors, the Rafter pitching staff struck out 12 Mallards and sank their division rival by a final score of 5-4 in front of a crowd exceeding 6,000.
Following their rain-shortened loss last night, the Rafters handed the ball to right-hander Dylan File (Dixie State) for his first start and second outing as a Rafter. In five innings of work, File stifled the potent Mallard lineup, surrendering just two earned runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out five.
With the Rats trailing 1-0 entering the fifth inning, their lineup would finally solve opposing starter Frank German and plate three runs courtesy of two Mallard errors and a wild pitch. German would not record a single out in the fifth inning before being lifted.
After a response from the Mallards in the bottom of the fifth to cut the score to 3-2, the ensuing inning would bring across another run for the Rafters. Yet another wild pitch- one of five committed by the Mallards- plated Luke Pettersen (Minnesota) and extended the Rafter lead to 4-2. In the seventh inning, center fielder Logan Mattix slapped an RBI double over the head of Mallard center fielder Cameron Frost and brought home the Rafters' fifth run of the evening, widening their advantage to 5-2.
With runners on second and third and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, a pop fly behind second base would skip off the mitt of Drew McLaughlin (Dixie State) and allow both Mallard runners to come home. Luckily for the Rafters, the Ducks were quieted the rest of the way by strong bullpen performances from Cameron Busby (Georgia College) and Garrett Schilling (Xavier). Following a two-out throwing error from Patrick Cromwell, Schilling delivered a three-pitch strikeout of Lucas Halstead to leave the tying run on base and lift the Rafters to a 3-1 record at Warner Park.
The Rafters will return home to Witter Field tomorrow night to face their first encounter with the expansion Rockford Rivets and the first of six consecutive home games. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05pm.
Northwoods League Stories from June 11, 2016
- Bucks Complete Sweep with 7-5 Extra-Innings - Waterloo Bucks
- Stingers Tie Huskies Late, Fall in Extra Innings - Willmar Stingers
- Harrisen Egly Dominantes Bombers in Game 2, Bullfrogs Splits Doubleheader - Green Bay Rockers
- Rivets Sweep Kingfish in Four Games - Kenosha Kingfish
- Battle Creek Bombers Fall to the Green Bay Bullfrogs, 4-3 - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Defensive Miscues Cause Bombers to Lose 4-3, Split - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Rafters Overcome Defensive Struggles to Sink Mallards - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Rox Get Wild Walkoff Win - St. Cloud Rox
- Mallards Drop Error-Filled Contest - Madison Mallards
- Battle Creek Bombers Top the Green Bay Bullfrogs in Game 1 of Their Doubleheader - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Kalamazoo Growlers Dominate for Sixth Win in a Row - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Honkers Fall to Rox in the Ninth Inning - Rochester Honkers
- Rivets Sweep Kingfish - Rockford Rivets
- 'Chucks Lose Second Straight in Kalamazoo - Wausau Woodchucks
- Daniel Jipping's Grand Slam Leads Bombers Past the Bullfrogs - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Another Honker Gets Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays - Rochester Honkers
- Mallards Search for Offense against Rafters - Madison Mallards
- Kingfish Lose Extra Inning Thriller in Rockford 15-14 - Kenosha Kingfish
- Bucks Extend Winning Streak to Six with 7-6 - Waterloo Bucks
- Rivets Win in Walkoff - Rockford Rivets
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Other Recent Wisconsin Rapids Rafters Stories
- The Scrappy Rats Erupt Late, Defeat Green Bay 8-6 at Home
- Rafters Drop Midweek Clash with Dock Spiders on Account of Two Big Innings
- Rafters Finish Regular Season Slate in Wausau with 9-4 Victory
- Rafters Outlast Madison in 3-1 Win
- Witter Field Set to be the Place Where Community Comes Together to Celebrate Heroes

