La Crosse– With lead-off base runners in every inning from the second through the sixth, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters threatened the La Crosse Loggers multiple times Friday night, but mustered only three hits in a 4-2 loss at Copeland Park.
Ducking and dodging his way out of trouble all night long, Michael Huckabay allowed a pair of solo home runs through five innings of work in his first Rafters appearance. The right-hander stranded Loggers on base in four of his five innings, including squirming out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. Huckabay ended the night allowing two runs on six hits with one walk and seven strike-outs.
Seth Wheeler had a hand in both of the Rafters runs on the night. The catcher came through with a two out single in the second to plate Kyle Peterson and put the Rafters in front 1-0. Then, trailing 2-1, Wheeler walked with one out in the seventh. A Bobby Martin double, his second of the night, moved Wheeler to third. When Loggers catcher Zach Miller fired down to third during the next at bat , the throw glanced off of Wheeler, bounded into foul territory and allowed him to scamper home with the tying run.
La Crosse struck right back in their half of the seventh. With reliever Zach Mercer pitching, the Loggers used a pair of walks and a single to break the tie. Another unearned run came across in the inning to set the final score at 4-2. Evan Stermer recorded the final two outs in the seventh while Skyler Debilzen worked a scoreless relief inning for the second straight game, recording a pair of strikeouts.
After their short two game set with the Loggers the Rafters return home to open a three game series with Eau Claire. Game one is set for 6:05 Saturday night at Witter Field. Fans can stick around after the game for the first Bulls Eye Credit Union
