Madison, WI July 30, 2010 (PRESS RELEASE)- The nature of a one run game is such that it can turn in an instant. The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters know that all too well after a 3-2 Rafters lead into the eighth became a 7-3 loss to the Madison Mallards Friday night.
A hit batter and a fielder's choice off reliever Steve Godawa set the stage for the game-changing eighth inning. With one out and the runner on first, Kurt Cunningham lofted a 3-1 Godawa offering deep off the wall in left-center for a game tying triple.
With runners on the corners after a walk, a fielder's choice to first broke the tie to make it 4-3 Mallards. Then with two on and two out, the game changed on one swing from Jumpy Garcia when he lofted a three-run home run deep to left-center to set the final at 7-3.
The Rafters and Mallards traded single runs in the first and the fifth before the Rafters claimed their one run lead in the top of the sixth inning. Brian Embery, 2-for-3 on the night, scored the Rafters go-ahead run. Embery doubled with one out and scored on a clutch two out knock from Matt Johnson. The Rafters however, failed to add on before the Mallards stormed back.
Jack Archie tossed a solid four innings in his Rafters debut. In what can be an intimidating venue, against a good hitting line-up, the UW-Stevens Point freshman allowed just a single run on two hits and struck out three. Garrett Branske allowed a run through two and one third innings of relief. The five run eighth drops Godawa's record to 2-3 on the season.
Sunday the Rafters return home for Cancer Awareness night presented by the Marshfield Clinic at 5:05. The Rafters will wear pink uniforms, available in a silent auction going on now at raftersbaseball.com and continuing throughout the game.
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are members of the 16-team summer collegiate Northwoods League. Single game tickets, ticket packages and group tickets are on sale now! For more information call (715) 424-5400 or visit www.raftersbaseball.com.
