After a week of sweltering temperatures and equally hot bats, the Chinooks’ offense fell faster than the mercury reading at Kapco Park on Friday night. The Chinooks mustered 25 runs in their last three games and their hot offense just happened to parallel the heat wave residing over Southeastern Wisconsin. Fittingly, as Friday’s temperatures dropped, the Chinooks’ bats went cold in a 5-0 losing effort against the Madison Mallards.

With the wind blowing off the lake and a tough day at the plate, the Chinooks defense would have to be flawless. The Chinooks were represented on the mound through the first five innings by Josh Uhen (UWM) who gave up four runs, on five hits, while walking two.

“We’re trying to get Josh into the starting rotation. We’re trying to extend him so when he gets back to college he can be a solid starter for UWM,” said Head Coach John Vodenlich. “What was most impressive for me was the last inning after they got those runs he came back and was throwing very effectively. He topped 90 again in that inning.  He did a nice job for his first outing and for him it really came down to one pitch.”

The Mallards offense seemed ready for the cool air. In the 2^nd inning, Phil Sorensen’s RBI single scored Jeff Zimmerman from 2^nd base to give the Mallards the early lead, 1-0.

After scoreless 3^rd and 4^th innings by Uhen, the Mallards offense returned in the top of the 5^th when Jose Trevino displayed his long-ball, for the third time this year, as he launched a high, outside pitch over the left field wall to score three runs, and increase the lead to 4-0.

“It was really a 1-0 ball game; you take out that one pitch to Trevino and you have a 1-0 game which changes a lot of different things, we can be more aggressive on the bases, we can do some things from a bunting standpoint,” said Vodenlich. 

The Chinooks managed to reach base, manufacturing eight hits, but were unable to capitalize, leaving 7 runners in scoring position. The only positive note for the Chinooks offense came in the form of extra-base-hits by Ty Young (Louisville); he was a home run short of the cycle to keep the crowd of 1,726 interested.

Uhen was replaced on the mound by Tyler Thicke (MATC Madison), who’s success offered hope to a team in need of future bullpen support as he pitched three innings, giving up only one hit and keeping the Mallards off the board.

In their attempt to rally, the Chinooks struggled at the plate in the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th innings, striking out seven times and allowing an additional runner to score for the Mallards to extend the final score to 5-0.

The Chinooks’ Uhen (1-3) was credited with the L and the Mallards’ Anthony Marzi (2-0) received the W. The Chinooks now stand at two games under .500 at 11-13. The final game of the series will be played tomorrow as Nick Soldano (North Park) takes the mound in Madison at 6:35p.m.