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Northwoods Wisconsin Rapids Rafters

Walk-Off Wonder at Witter Wins Rafters Eight Straight

June 8, 2022 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release


Jacob Igawa of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
Jacob Igawa of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
(Wisconsin Rapids Rafters)

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. - The Rats are hot. They are hotter than a grill on the Fourth of July, Florida, or even a volcano erupting. They continued to get hotter tonight after a Jacob Igawa walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to win their eighth straight, 4-3 over the Wausau Woodchucks.

Wednesday night's game started much the same as Monday night's game: scoreless. Through five innings, neither team had scored, but this was in large part due to great pitching. Rafters starter, Cam Nolet, threw four scoreless innings to start the ballgame giving up two Woodchuck hits, two walks, and one strikeout. The Woodchucks starter, Ryan Eiermann, also had been scoreless through five as well. However, danger struck in the form of Rafters third baseman, Brendan Bobo, in the bottom of the sixth when he hit his fourth homer of the season in just as many games to give the Rats a 4-0 lead.

Jake Dahle came on in relief for the Rafters in the fifth and threw two scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth. However, an Amani Larry RBI single in the top of the seventh tied the ballgame back up at 1-1. Dahle threw a scoreless eighth to finish his night after four innings pitched, three hits allowed, one run earned, one walk, and six strikeouts. Daxton Purser came on in relief for the Woodchucks in the seventh and was shut out in his first two innings of work, holding the Rats scoreless.

In the top of the ninth, the Woodchucks brought in two runs on Rafters reliever Preston Howey via a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly to give them a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. The Rats drew two walks in the bottom of the ninth to have runners on first and second with one out. Tommy Barth blooped a single into right field which loaded the bases. Pinch hitter Jack Rogers drew a bases-loaded walk to bring the Rafters within one, 3-2. Wausau made a move to the bullpen to bring in right-hander Caleb Rutledge. The first batter he faced was the Rats designated hitter, Jacob Igawa. After fouling off a first-pitch fastball and taking ball one, Igawa sent a 1-1 fastball right back where it came from up the middle into center field that brought home Aidan Brewer and Tommy Barth to give the Rafters their eighth straight win and their first walk-off of 2022. Preston Howey received the win, as Purser of Wausau received the loss. Wisconsin Rapids sits at 8-1 and Wausau at 3-6.

The Rafters will be back in action tomorrow night at Athletic Park in Wausau to take on the Woodchucks at 6:35 pm. Tune in on WFHR 1320 AM/97.5 FM to listen to Brett Loftis and Carter Gledhill call the action from Wausau.




Images from this story

Jacob Igawa of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
Jacob Igawa of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
   



Northwoods League Stories from June 8, 2022


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