The Mallards are hoping to tip the scales back to .500-plus Monday, coming off a two-game losing skid against the Wisconsin Woodchucks on the road.

After taking a two-game sweep over the Eau Claire Express at home Thursday and Friday, Madison slipped back to .500, losing 8-2 and 5-4 to the Woodchucks the following two days.

Outfielders Travis Sweet (.333) and Jordan Comadena (.313) lead the Ducks from the plate, being the only players above .300 in the scorebook. The duo has combined for 28 at-bats, nine hits and three runs – all scored by Comadena (shares team high with Chris Roberts).

Roberts is one of five Mallards players who have appeared in all four games of the season. The second baseman is only batting .167, but has scored three times and drawn a pair of walks.

One of the biggest offensive contributors in the lineup has been Justin Bristow. The Auburn Tiger connected with a pitch in the eighth, giving the Mallards some insurance in the 4-2 win. He is batting .273 with three hits and three RBIs.

On the mound, it has been hit or miss for Madison so far. The first two starting pitchers, Trevor Feeney (1-0) and Nick Kirk (0-0), both threw for seven full innings, giving up no runs. Feeney only allowed two hits, and Kirk retired 10 batters on strikeouts. The next two games, however, the starters had trouble hitting their spots, allowing a combined 12 hits, nine walks and eight runs in 10.2 innings.

Tonight, Bristow (0-0) will make his first appearance as a pitcher this year, and he will face Wisconsin’s Matt Trousch (0-0), who posted a 5-4 record at Oakland University with a 4.93 ERA, pitching a team-high 65.2 innings. Trousch only allowed 16 walks and struck out 43 batters.

Offensively for the Woodchucks, Vincente Cafaro has been nearly unstoppable this season, batting .400. The shortstop has already tallied five runs on four hits – also driving in three. Outfielder Brandon Frazier is another .400-plus hitter, swinging .429 to lead his team. He has also contributed six hits, two runs, four stolen bases and four RBIs.

The Mallards have to overcome a deep Woodchucks roster if they want to return to the top of the South Division, currently controlled by the La Crosse Loggers and the Woodchucks – both 3-1.

Game time is set for 6:35 p.m. and will be broadcast on Madison’s Sports Radio, 100.5 FM.

Great seats are still available for next weekend’s three-game homestand, beginning Friday, June 8! Please visit mallardsbaseball.com or call 246.4277 to reserve your tickets today.