For the Rapids City Times

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (15-19) fell to the Madison Mallards (27-8) by two runs, falling short in a ninth-inning rally. Madison struck first plating two. An RBI single from David Vinsky and a Rafters error allowing two runs to come home for Madison.

The Mallards collected another RBI single in the third, this one from Trevor Boone. The Rafters got on the board in their part of the third as Brody Wofford (UCF) scored on a wild pitch.  A double from Jesse Forestell in the fifth scored one more for the Mallards and a 3-1 lead. The cranberry and gold attempted a rally in the ninth. Wofford reached first on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Bret Fehr (SIU Edwardsville) brought Wofford home with an RBI single. The Mallards, however, recovered and Ty Duvall (Vanderbilt) hit a fly ball to left field to end it.

Charlie Ruegger (1-3, 2.18 ERA) suffered the loss for the Rafters. Ruegger allowed three earned runs but struck out eight batters, just one shy of his season high. Turner French (3-0, 3.72 ERA) was awarded the win for Madison. Jonah Smith earned his second save of the year.