The Mallards are back on the road for a two-game set with Eau Claire after a productive weekend, taking a two-game series from Mankato and falling just short to first place Wisconsin on Sunday, 4-3. Eau Claire had the day off on Sunday after splitting a two-game series with Wisconsin. The Express enter tonight’s game having won two of their last three ballgames.
Madison looks to continue its early season success against the Express as right-hander Jim Sajewich will be on the mound for the Mallards and lefty Tim Huber will go for Eau Claire. In 4.2 of work this season, Sajewich has an ERA of 3.86 and has struck out six.
Huber is making his first start of the season. This spring at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Huber went 6-3 with a 4.12 ERA and struck out 69 batters in 67.2 innings of work.
Dating back to opening night, Mallards pitching has dominated the Express this season with Eau Claire hitting just .154 and producing a total of three runs. Eau Claire struck out 22 times total for both games and going into tonight Madison holds a team ERA of 0.47 against the Express.
Jordan Comadena is batting .500 (4-8) with two runs scored against the Express. Daniel Webb rolls into the series leading the Mallards in hits with nine and tied with Russell Harben with a .333 batting average. Neil Medchill has supplied plenty of offense as he is hitting just over the .300 mark, and he also leads the squad with seven runs batted in.
Eau Claire played Madison tough in their first meeting especially with a short roster at the time. Infielder Mike LaLuna and outfielder Pat Colwell will attempt to add productivity at the plate that should help the Express fair better than their last encounter with the Mallards. LaLuna is hitting .346 with four runs batted in and has the only Express home run of the season. Colwell’s speed on the base path should create some problems for the Mallards. Colwell’s five stolen bases leads the Express; he also enters tonight with a .273 average.
Fans, be sure to join us next Wednesday, June 13, as the Mallards take on the Green Bay Bullfrogs. It’s Dancin’ Maynard G. Mallard bobblehead night! Maynard is dancin’ like it’s 1999 and wants to see you at the Duck Pond! Are you over 21 years old? Then get ready to receive a Red Hook and Genna’s Cocktail Lounge pint glass.
Great seats are still available for all four games during next week’s homestand and can be purchased by visiting mallardsbaseball.com or calling 246.4277.
