Madison, WI – June 16, 2008. After the Mallards came from behind twice yesterday to sweep a doubleheader against the Waterloo Bucks, it was the Bucks turn to come from a deficit and win, taking tonight’s series finale 6-3. The Bucks scored five in the bottom of the eighth off Kyle Heim (Iowa) and Nathan Kafka (Minnesota State) to erase a 3-1 deficit. The loss was the Mallards first in the last five games and dropped them to 11-6 overall ahead of a visit by the Eau Claire Express tomorrow.
Joe De Pinto (USC) was 1-for-4 with an RBI double in the second and a sacrifice fly that scored a run in the sixth. Phil Gosselin (Virginia), Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) and Luke Stewart (UAB) accounted for the Mallards other three hits. Lyerly’s sixth-inning single extended his hitting streak to six games. The Bucks received a breakout performance by Brian Gaylord, who went 3-for-4 with a bases-clearing go-ahead double in the eighth. He entered the game with one hit in his previous 13 at bats.
The Mallards struck first in the second inning when Gosselin was hit by a pitch from Bucks starter Cam Nobles and advanced to second on a passed ball and stole third. Following a Stewart strikeout, Russell Harben (South Alabama) grounded to third and reached base when Gosselin was hung up and tagged out between third and home. De Pinto then doubled home Harben for a 1-0 Mallards lead.
The Bucks tied it up in the fourth to make the score 1-1 until the sixth, when the Mallards added two more highlighted by Lyerly scoring on a passed ball and De Pinto’s sacrifice fly. But the Bucks took advantage of pitching miscues and Gaylord’s big hit to score five in the eighth to take a 6-3 lead. Joey Register and Ryan Goins hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, and both advanced 90 feet into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Giller. Kafka then entered the game and hit the first two batters he faced, which drove in a run to make the score 3-2. He then walked the following batter to force in the tying run. Gaylord then stepped to the plate and hit a double down the left field line that cleared the bases and gave Waterloo a three-run lead.
Joe Yermal (Charlotte) made his second start on the mound and worked four innings, allowing five hits and one earned run. He was relieved by Travis High who did not allow a hit in two innings before handing it over to Heim and then Kafka, who took the loss. James Jones worked the final three innings for the Bucks and earned the win, allowing just one hit.
The Mallards return to the “Duck Pond” tomorrow night for a 7:05 game against the Eau Claire Express. It is “Pay What You Want Night,” an unprecedented event where fans can go online and purchase tickets for whatever price they choose! Also, Los Angeles Dodgers great Maury Wills will make an appearance at the “Duck Pond!”
Wednesday’s game between the Express and the Mallards will be Alliant Energy Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Bat Night (first 1,000 14 & under). It is also Quench Gum Guaranteed Win Night. If the Mallards lose, all fans will receive tickets to a future game. Great seats are still available for the Eau Claire series, as well as the rest of the season.
What day will experience Mallards baseball?
