Behind a great pitching performance from starter Eryk McConnell and focused play from the entire team, the Madison Mallards defeated St. Cloud Monday, 3-0, to end a seven-game losing streak.
Both teams wore retro uniforms: the Mallards in the Madison Blues uniforms and the River Bats in replica St. Cloud Rox uniforms. The Blues were in existence in the 1930s until 1942. The Rox existed in St. Cloud from 1946-1971.
Both teams also received great performances from the respective starting pitchers. Madison’s McConnell (pictured below) didn’t allow a run in seven innings. He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out ten. St. Cloud’s Michael Jarman left after six innings of work. He allowed four hits and three walks while striking out seven.
St. Cloud’s bullpen let the team down. Relief pitcher Bryan Cartie allowed consecutive singles to lead off the eighth to Jordan Comadena (pictured left) and Bobby Hubbard. Mitch Saum tried to bunt them into scoring position but popped out to the catcher. Randy Molina singled to load the bases for Ryan Bond. St. Cloud lifted Cartie for reliever Nick Tess. Tess threw a wild pitch to Ryan Bond that allowed Comadena to score from third and move the other runners up one base. Bond then walked to load them up again for Spencer Steedley. Steedley walked to force Hubbard home and give the Mallards a 2-0 lead. St. Cloud brought in it’s third pitcher of the inning when Tony Lombardi entered after Steedley’s walk. The first batter he faced, Kris Rochelle, smoked a line drive back to the pitcher. Lombardi knocked it down and it seemed a double play was forthcoming. Instead, Lombardi threw the ball to the third base side of home plate and it went to the backstop, allowing Molina to come home and end the scoring for the night
McConnell earned his first win as a Mallard. Brett Scarpetta pitched the final two innings and picked up his second save.
The Mallards improved to 8-10 with the victory. Madison plays at Alexandria Tuesday night. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. You’ll hear the game on Madison’s Fox Sports Radio, 100.5 FM or www.mallardsradio.com.
