Madison, WI – July 7, 2008. The South Division first-half champion Mallards continue their 10-game, 11-day road trip tonight in Duluth. First pitch against the Huskies is set for 7:05 p.m., with right-hander Scott Heitshusen (Kansas) taking the mound for the Mallards. Follow all the action live at livemallardsbaseball.com! Great seats are still available for both the NWL Home Run Derby on Sunday, July 13 at 4:30 p.m., and the All-Star Game on Monday, July 14 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by clicking tickets or by calling the Mallards box office at 608.246.4277.
Madison Mallards (0-2) at Duluth Huskies (1-1)
July 7, 2008 – 7:05 p.m. (CT)
Wade Stadium – Duluth, MN
Pitching Probables:
RHP Scott Heitshusen (MAD) – 5 GS, 28.0 IP, 2-1, 4.50 ERA
LHP Tim Statz (DUL) – 1 GS, 6.0 IP, 1-0, 3.00 ERA
Mallards records (first half):
– 0-2 vs. Duluth
– 10-8 at home
– 12-3 on road
– 14-6 vs. South Division
– 8-5 vs. North Division
Mallards records (second half):
– 0-0 vs. Duluth
– 0-0 at home
– 0-2 on road
– 0-2 vs. South Division
– 0-0 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 16-5 when scoring first
– 3-4 in extra innings
– 7-4 in one-run games
– 15-1 when leading after 7 innings
– 14-2 when outhitting its opponent
– 15-1 when scoring 7+ runs
– 14-3 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: L 3-2 at Wisconsin, July 5
A three-run fourth inning was all the Wisconsin Woodchucks needed to defeat the Madison Mallards 3-2 behind eight innings of two-hit baseball by Bobby Pritchett. The right-hander scattered two base hits and allowed one unearned run, while striking out eight Mallards. Mallards starter Nolan Cain (LSU) redeemed himself after struggling in his first start of the season, pitching three innings and holding the Woodchucks hitless. The two teams combined for only seven hits on the night, and the Mallards missed numerous scoring opportunities, leaving eight runners on base. The sweep at the hands of the Woodchucks drops the first-half champion Mallards to 0-2 to start the second half.
Road Warriors:
After a day off yesterday, the Mallards head to Duluth tonight and tomorrow for games seven and eight of a 10-game road trip. So far the Mallards are 3-3 on the extended road stay. After the series in Duluth the team will head to Alexandria for two games before returning to Madison on Friday, July 11.
Mallards Musings:
-Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) is third in the Northwoods League with a .351 batting average in 25 games played.
-Gabriel Shaw (Louisville) comes in sixth in the Northwoods League with a 1.29 ERA in 28 innings pitched.
-Luke Stewart (UAB) is tied for fourth in the Northwoods League with four home runs. His 13 extra-base hits rank him sixth in the league.
-After a 4-for-5 performance on June 26 against Brainerd, outfielder Aaron Bray (Charlotte) 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. Lyerly made it two Mallards award-winners in one week when he earned the honor on Monday after a 4-for-5 game at Mankato. He had a home run, a double, three RBIs and scored three runs in the contest.
-With a win on June 25 at Thunder Bay, Brandon Johnson (Western Carolina) moved into a tie for the third in the league in wins with four.
-Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) had a 10-game hitting streak snapped on June 28. It was the Mallards second-longest hitting streak of the season.
-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.
The Mallards will be hosting the 2008 Northwoods League All-Star Game on July 13th and July 14th. The Homerun Derby, the Military All-Stars vs. Home Talent League All-Stars Game, and the All-Star Fan Fest will take place on the 13th, while the Northwoods League All-Star Game will take place at 7:05 pm on July 14th. Great seats are still available and can be purchased either online at mallardsbaseball.com or by calling the ticket office at (608) 246-4277.
