Late Rally Not Enough

For the City-Times

 It was a tight, close game between regional rivals as the Wisconsin Woodchucks (30-23, 12-7) took down the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (19-31, 7-9) by a score of 5-4.

The Woodchucks jumped out to an early lead right off the bat in the top of the 1^st. Slugging first baseman Brendon Hayden (Virginia Tech) launched a two run home run off of the scoreboard in right- center to put Wisconsin quickly in front.

Wisconsin Rapids responded two innings later as Clark Eagan (Arkansas) singled home Zack Domingues (Long Beach State) to halve the ‘Chucks lead. After giving up the home run in the 1^st, Rafters’ starter Zach Jackson (Arkansas) settled into a nice groove. The right- hander struggled with his control early, as his final line featured three walks and three wild pitches, but as the game went on the Oklahoman got stronger. Jackson finished with 10 strikeouts in his 6 innings as the four hits he gave up came in pairs in the 1^st and the 4^th.

The Rafters eventually tied up the game in the 7^th when Zack Domingues led off the inning with a single and would eventually score the tying run off of a wild pitch thrown by Austin Tribby (Missouri). Wisconsin would not be phased as they came back with three runs of their own in the top of the 8^th highlighted by a two RBI single from shortstop Ryan Howard (Missouri).

Wisconsin Rapids would make things interesting with two runs scored in the bottom of the 9^th but it would not be enough as the 10 runners left on base throughout the game would haunt the Rafters in a one run loss. The two teams will meet up for the final time this season Sunday night with the scene shifting to Athletic Park in Wausau. First pitch is at 5:05 pm.