The Mallards played their first game at the Duck Pond since July 1 Friday, but failed to give the home crowd a win, falling to the second-half, undefeated Wisconsin Woodchucks 3-0.

Wisconsin is now 5-0 against Madison this season and now owns a South Division best 5-0 record while the Mallards fell to 1-4 to start the second half.

Solid pitching on both ends limited the scoring on the evening, as seven full innings went scoreless. Woodchuck Matt Trausch (3-1) earned the victory, going 8.0 innings, giving up four hits, no runs, two walks and a strikeout. On the losing end, Brian Smith (2-2) went 7.0 innings, letting up eight hits, three runs and six strikeouts.

Wisconsin broke things open in the first inning, scoring two runs off three hits. After two basehits and a hit-by-pitch, Smith found himself pitching to Matt Gantner with only one out and the bases loaded. Smith fielded a comebacker and threw the ball home in time to record the second out. With things looking a bit better, Wisconsin’s Steve Winkelmann produced a two-RBI single.

Later, in the seventh, the Woodchucks added the final run of the game on Vincente Cafaro’s RBI-double to left field, which scored Elliot Arrington.

Offensively, the Mallards struggled with only five hits between three players. Evan LeBlanc and Randy Molina each had a multi-hit game, and Daniel Webb also recorded a hit.

A total of 6,422 fans (pictured) crowded the Duck Pond to see the home opener of the second half.

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Saturday is the return of Goodman’s Jeweler’s Diamond Night! The first 1,000 ladies will receive a gemstone and one will be a real diamond! Bring your gemstone back to Goodman’s to find out if you have won the diamond! Stick around after the game for The Gomers playing Neil Diamond cover songs on the Duck Blind and a spectacular fireworks display.

Tickets are going fast and can be purchased by visiting mallardsbaseball.com or by calling 246.4277. Thanks for your support of Mallards baseball!