For the Rapids City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Rafters struck first and blasted their second home run of the season as Steven Rivas (Long Beach State) went yard again but the Rivets would score eight times in the third and would hold a lead from then onward.

In the top of the third, Bret Fehr (SIU Edwardsville) led things off with a triple and then scored via an RBI single from Jake Dunham (Northern Illinois). Payton Robertson (Lamar) singled to third base and Steven Rivas cleared the bags with a home run to right center, his second in as many days, to give the Rafters a 4-0 lead.

The Rivets responded with an offensive foray of their own in their half of the third. They scored eight times on five hits. Back-to-back RBI singles from Connor Rutherford and Brock Martin led the way. Two errors were committed by the cranberry and gold in the inning causing seven of eight runs to be unearned. Rockford scored five runs between the fifth and sixth innings to round out their scoring at 13.

The Rafters plated one more in the eighth when Rivets reliever Tommy Burnette walked in a run.

Cole Waites (0-1, 1.80) was given the loss, his first of the year. Cole Bellair (2-0, 2.77) earned his second win for Rockford.

The Rafters conclude their road trip June 5 at Rivets Stadium in the second and final game of the current series against Rockford.