Madison, WI – June 27, 2008. Gabriel Shaw (Louisville) will make his fourth start of the season tonight against Brainerd and try to lead the Mallards to their sixth straight win. The Mallards are now just two games behind South Division-leading Wisconsin with seven games to play in the first half. It is Concordia University “Happy Days” Night at the ballpark, and great seats still remain.
Brainerd Blue Thunder (8-14) at Madison Mallards (17-9)
June 27, 2008 – 7:05 p.m. (CT)
Warner Park – Madison, WI
Pitching Probables:
RHP Gabriel Shaw (MAD) – 3 GS, 16.0 IP, 0-0, 2.25 ERA
RHP Scott Foley (BRA) – 0 GS, 5.1 IP, 0-0, 1.69 ERA
Mallards records:
– 3-0 vs. Brainerd
– 8-7 at home
– 9-2 on road
– 11-4 vs. South Division
– 6-5 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 12-3 when scoring first
– 3-3 in extra innings
– 7-2 in one-run games
– 12-1 when leading after 7 innings
– 12-1 when outhitting its opponent
– 11-0 when scoring 7+ runs
– 15-7 when allowing fewer than 7 runs
– 11-1 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: W 10-2 vs. Brainerd, June 26
Luke Stewart’s (UAB) five RBIs and Aaron Bray’s (Charlotte) 4-for-5 game keyed the Mallards offense to a 10-2 thumping of the Brainerd Blue Thunder in front of 5,426 fans at the “Duck Pond.” The win was the fifth straight for the Mallards, and puts them in position to get their third straight series sweep tonight. Nine of the Mallards 10 runs were manufactured with two outs and the team knocked out 14 hits on the night, tying a season-high. Alex Rivers (Santa Clara) pitched six innings, allowing six base hits and one earned run to pick up his first win of the season. The win coupled with a La Crosse loss at Rochester moves the Mallards into a tie for second place in the South Division, two games behind Wisconsin with seven to play in the first half.
Mallards Musings:
-After a 4-for-5 performance on Thursday against Brainerd, outfielder Aaron Bray was named Northwoods League Player of the Night. He had four singles and scored three runs. Bray is the first Mallard to win the nightly award this season.
-In his last four games Phil Gosselin (Virginia) is hitting .412 (7-for-17) with a pair of game-winning hits. He has also scored four runs and driven in five more during the span.
-With a win on Wednesday at Thunder Bay, Brandon Johnson (Western Carolina) moves into a tie for the second in the league in wins with four.
-Following a day out of the lineup on June 17 Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) is 14-for-31 (.452) in his last eight games, pushing his batting average back above the .300 mark to .333. He was 2-for-10 in the three games prior to his day off.
-Matt Jansen (Purdue) continues to pitch well and make a strong case for mid-season all-star honors. In 32 innings pitched over five starts and a relief appearance he has allowed just four earned runs (1.13 ERA). He is 2-0 on the season, and opponents are hitting just .193 against the left-hander. The 32 innings Jansen has worked are third-most in the league.
-Luke Stewart (UAB) is tied for second in the Northwoods League with four home runs.
-Rob Lyerly’s (Charlotte) 12-game hitting streak dating back to June 11 ended with a 0-for-2 performance at Thunder Bay on June 24. He hit .380 with 11 runs scored and four doubles during the streak. It is the second-longest hitting streak in the Northwoods League this season.
-From the beginning of the season on May 29 until June 15 Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) reached base in 16 consecutive games.
Two Mallards win College World Series Championship:
Mallards Alan Ahmady and Trent Soares will arrive in Madison as College World Series Champions. The Fresno State Bulldogs defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 6-1 Wednesday night to win the College World Series two games to one. Ahmady had a remarkable postseason to conclude a breakout 2008 campaign, going 17-for-48 (.354) in Fresno State’s 13 postseason games. He drove in 12 runs and scored 10 more. In 2008 Ahmady hit .386 and drove in 92 runs, a total that was good for second in the NCAA. After losing game one to Georgia 7-6 on Monday night, the Bulldogs evened the series on Tuesday with a 19-10 win and then wrapped up the championship with a 6-1 victory on Wednesday night. It is Fresno State’s first baseball championship in school history.
Come out to the ballpark early for a chance to meet “Potsie” Anson Williams from “Happy Days” fame! The first 750 adults 21 & over will also receive a Budweiser Pint Glass featuring Mallards Manager C.J. Thieleke. Tickets can be purchased online at mallardsbaseball.com or by calling 608.246.4277.
