It took the Mallards 29 second-half games and 15-consecutive wins to overtake first place in the Northwoods League South Division. Despite facing adversity early in the second half, the Mallards now control their own destiny in closing out the season with a playoff berth.

The latest win, which tied Green Bay for the NWL record for most consecutive victories, finished out Madison’s eighth-straight series sweep, including a series against Mankato that was shortened to one game after a rainout in the finale. The Ducks rallied late in the game to defeat the Battle Creek Bombers 12-6.

Starting pitcher Trevor Feeney did not bring his best game Wednesday, giving up his second most amount of runs (6) in six innings of work. He allowed five hits and three walks while striking out a pair of Bombers. Sloppy defense in the first inning didn’t help the cause, as Battle Creek went ahead 2-0 thanks in part to two Mallards errors.

Down two heading into the top of the fourth, Daniel Webb knocked in Evan LeBlanc for Madison’s first run of the game. In the sixth, the Ducks tied the game after Matt Behren produced a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Bobby Hubbard.

With the momentum shifting like a pendulum, the Bombers countered with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the same inning. This led to a 6-2 Mallards deficit with playoff implications and a winning streak on the line.

Buckling down in the next two inning, Madison brought the game back within a run in the seventh, as Brandon Wikoff, LeBlanc and Randy Molina all rounded the bases in a one-hit, two-error inning.

In the deciding frame, the Mallards put 12 batters to the plate, combining for seven runs in the seven-hit, one-error frame. Battle Creek’s pitching staff struggled, walking two batters in crucial situations.

For a third-straight game, the Mallards bullpen refused to let up a run, as Nathan Kafka and Steven Gilgenbach combined for three innings, giving up just a walk to the Bombers.

With Eau Claire (21-9, .700) losing a close one in Green Bay, 6-5, Madison (21-8, .724) will now own first place in the South Division with four games remaining, including the final series of the season between the Mallards and the Express at the Duck Pond.

Great seats are still available for this weekend’s four-game series and can be purchased and printed by visiting Mallardsbaseball.com or by calling the ticket office at 246.4277.