A season-high 7,213 fans showed up Friday for the Mallards homecoming after a 17-day, 13-game road trip and were not disappointed. Madison (7-5 second half, 30-16 overall) scored a season high 13 runs en route to a 13-1 victory over the La Crosse Loggers (4-8, 17-28).
Mike Rohde got the offense going early with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Mallards a 2-0 lead. The All-Star infielder had Loggers starting pitcher Danny Ray Herrera?s number all evening, and added two more RBI to his total with a double in the third. Rohde finished the evening three-for-five with five RBI and three runs scored.
Ryan Rogowski gave the fans plenty to cheer about in the first inning as well, swiping his 61st career stolen base to pass Mike Byas (Waterloo, 1995-96) as the Northwoods League stolen base leader.
Madison broke the game wide open in the third when catcher John Martin produced a three-run double that put the Mallards on top 7-0. Martin finished the night two-for-four with four RBI and a run scored.
Nine different Mallards combined for 16 hits, falling three hits shy of Madison?s season-high. Rogowski, Jordan Comadena, Ryan Bond and Danny Dressman also recorded multi-hit games.
Rick Rivas?s solid pitching performance was lost in the offensive explosion as the right-hander from Oklahoma State threw seven innings, allowing just one run while striking out six. Rivas improves to 4-2 on the season.
The Mallards are back in action Saturday at 6:05 p.m. against the Rochester Honkers. For tickets call (608) 246-4277 or visit www.mallardsbaseball.com.