Published On: June 20th, 2002

Going into the eighth inning down by a score of 4-3 to the Rochester Honkers and facing a losing homestand, the Madison Mallards came up with some big clutch hits to win an exciting, come from behind 7-4 victory at Warner Park before a crowd of 1,785.
Brady Endl started for the Mallards and pitched well over the course of his five innings. He allowed two runs, though only one earned, on five hits while walking two and striking out four. He allowed single runs in the second and third innings.
The Mallards scored two runs in the second on a Matt Bose sacrifice fly and an error by Rochester catcher Todd Stroud. The Mallards then took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on Bose’s second RBI of the night, a fielder’s choice to score Mike Settle, who led off the inning with a single.
Rochester came right back with two runs in the sixth. After Stroud and Rochester third baseman Ben Thomas singled, the number nine hitting shortstop Andy Lytle came up with a big two-run, two out single off Mallard reliever J.J. Jackson to give the Honkers a 4-3 lead.
The Mallards did not quit however, and had possibly their most important inning of this short season in the bottom of the eighth. Center fielder Madison Edwards led off with a base hit off Honkers starter Connor Falkenbach and was sacrificed to second base by Cooper Fouts. Mike Settle then came through with a big RBI single to tie the game up at four and send Falkenbach to the showers.
After Honker reliever David Bader intentionally walked Charlie Babineaux, Jaime Martinez came through with a huge RBI double to score Settle and give the Mallards a 5-4 lead. After Bose was intentionally walked, pinch hitter Nick Cadena hit an 0-1 pitch into left field for a base hit to score both Babineaux and Martinez and give the Mallards some insurance at 7-4.
Josh Hansen pitched the eighth inning for the Mallards to pick up the win and even his record at 1-1. Mark Sopko gave up a leadoff single in the ninth but then retired the side in order for his first save. Falkenbach gave up five runs for the Honkers, though only two were earned, to take the loss for the Honkers and fall to 1-1. He was hurt by his battery mate Todd Stroud’s error and two passed balls.
The win was important for the Mallards, as they improved to 6-7 on the season and finished their longest homestand of the season at 4-4. They will travel to Brainerd for a quick two game series on Thursday before coming home this weekend to face Alexandria for two games.

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