Rafters Bats Awaken in Win
For the City-Times
Wisconsin Rapids Blasts Two Home Runs in Victory
For the second night in a row, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (2-2) took down the Wisconsin Woodchucks (0-4) in a game filled with sloppy defense.
The final score was 8-4 Rafters starter Jon Malmin (Texas) was dealing as he went 6 innings while only allowing 1 unearned run. The Woodchucks almost jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first when with runners at first and third, CJ Chatham lined one out to right field. Right fielder Sloan Dieter (Oklahoma State) made a fantastic diving catch to rob Chatham of a hit and an RBI.
After an error committed by Wisconsin catcher Jack Klages (Missouri) allowed Rafters second baseman Michael Hurwitz (Illinois) to score in the third, Wisconsin Rapids broke open the game in the 4th. With two on, Kyle McHugh (UW-Stevens Point) blasted a Kyle Miller (FAU) pitch for a home run to deep left center to put the Rafters up 4-0.
Sloan Dieter would continue his positive contributions in the fifth when he drilled a two run home run off of Kaylor Chafin (Purdue). Some bad Rafter defense allowed the Woodchucks to scratch across some late runs but Dieter shut the door in the bottom of the ninth to ensure the Rafters’ second consecutive victory.