For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Playing in front of the fourth-largest crowd in team history, the first-place Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (21-13) rallied in the series finale against the Madison Mallards (17-17), but ultimately dropped the series finale 4-2 on Aug. 9.

Wisconsin Rapids rallied back from a 2-0 lead, getting an RBI double from Anthony Galason to level the score. Madison retook the lead, going up 4-2 in the seventh inning. Wisconsin Rapids put the tying run aboard in the ninth, but failed to bring him home.

Rafters starter Nathan Hemmerling struck out four batters in six innings as the starter and Hayden Petrovick gets the loss with 2.2 innings of relief. Leon Davidson earns the win out of the bullpen for Madison.

The Rafters have a .5-game lead over Fond du Lac with two games remaining in the regular season. Wisconsin Rapids can clinch a playoff berth with two wins. Wisconsin Rapids closes out the regular-season portion of their 10thAnniversary Season with a road series in Lakeshore.