Madison’s Alex Rivers (Santa Clara) flirted with a no-hitter Tuesday in leading the Mallards to a 4-1 series opening victory against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. Rivers [pictured] didn’t allow a hit until there was one out in the eighth inning when Terrance Jackson (North Central) got to him with a sharp single to left field. He allowed two hits in all and left the game after pitching 7.2 innings and striking out ten. Phil Gosselin (Virginia) hit a three-run home run in the third inning to open the scoring for Madison. Luke Stewart (Alabama-Birmingham) followed with a solo shot in the fourth. Jake Waddle (Luther) tripled in the eighth inning to knock home the only Woodchuck run. (photo #1 credit Jim Addis, Madison Mallards, photos #2-4 credit Ricky Bassman)

Thunder Bay rallied for two runs in the ninth inning to win game one of the North Divisional Playoffs 5-3 at Mankato. Derek Wiley (Belmont) drove in the two runs with a single. Thunder Bay had led by a run in the eighth inning until Kyle Knudson (Minnesota) drove in a run with an infield single. Seth Frankoff (UNC-Wilmington) went 5.1 innings and didn’t allow an earned run for Thunder Bay. Brendan Lafferty (UCLA) tossed seven innings for Mankato allowing just one earned run and three hits while striking out eight. Jimmy Stanley (Belmont) picked up the win out of relief for Thunder Bay.