Only the Mallards and the Bombers came away with victories Friday night, providing a tremendous push to Madison’s playoff hopes. With Green Bay (13-6) and Eau Claire both falling (13-5), and the Mallards defeating Wisconsin (13-5) for the first time all year, the Ducks gained a game on the top shelf of the NWL South Division.
It took 10 innings for the Mallards to overcome the Woodchucks, as Bobby Hubbard (pictured) ran 90 feet to score on a bouncer to the mound from Eric Nielsen. The play was close, but Hubbard’s slide knocked away the ball to give the Mallards a 10-8 record in the second-half of NWL play.
Madison has now won eight of its last nine games, including its current four-game winning streak — a tie for the Mallards’ longest streak of the year.
Hubbard, who scored the winning run, was also the Player of the Game, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. The top three batters in the lineup — Jordan Comadena, Brandon Wikoff and Randy Molina — each recorded a run, and Wikoff and Molina each batted in a run.
After Trevor Feeney (pictured) posted 6.2 innings, giving up nine hits, four runs (all earned), two walks and three strikeouts, Travis High and Bubba O’Donnell (W, 1-1) closed the game in shutout fashion, combining for no hits and no walks, striking out one apiece.
O’Donnell came in to start the ninth, and after the Mallards failed to score a run in the bottom half of the inning, he returned to finish the job in the 10th.
The game went back and forth with the teams each scoring a pair of runs in the third. The ‘Chucks scored once again in the fourth, but the Mallards took the go-ahead in the next inning with two more runs. After three-straight Wisconsin singles in the seventh, the visitors were able to knot-up the game before Hubbards game-winning run.
For video highlights, visit here.
Both teams travel to Wausau to finish out the two-game series. Madison will return to the Duck Pond Sunday to host a two-game set against La Crosse in another crucial divisional series.
Sunday is Luxury Bath Rubber Ducky Night (first 1,000 14 & under). Dogs at the “Duck Pond” Night. Dogs welcome at the park & $.50 per hot dog sold will go to the Dane County Humane Society.
