For Hub City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – After eight and a half scoreless innings from both sides, the Rafters won 1-0 in the ninth on a walk-off base hit from Steven Rivas (Long Beach State).

Rivas’ hit scored Jordan Wiley (Kalamazoo College), who had reached first on a lead-off walk issued by Woodchucks reliever Alex Stodola. Stodola then made an errant throw to first attempting to pick off Wiley. The ball got away from the first baseman Alex Toral and with his speed, Wiley was able to reach third base on the error.

The Woodchucks elected to make a pitching change bringing in their closer Lennon Gwizdala. On the first pitch from Gwizdala, Steven Rivas hit it up the middle and past the glove of Michael Fernandez at second to bring Wiley home.

The cranberry and gold’s pitching played a crucial part in the win. Trayson Kubo (3-0, 0.56 ERA) earned his third win in as many starts. The pitcher out of Stephen F. Austin threw six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four. Chandler Greenfield (Dixie State) was given the save. Greenfield added three more scoreless innings, scattering three hits and fanning two.

The Woodchucks starter Alec Abdalah had a no-hit bid broken up after 5.1 innings by a base hit from Seth Mullis (UNLV). Gwizdala was the victim of the tough luck one pitch loss, his first loss of the season.