Madison, WI – July 8, 2008. The Mallards will try to bounce back from a 4-1 loss last night, in which they struck out 13 times and left 9 runners on base. The South Division first-half champions are still looking for their first win of the second half. All-star Left-hander Matt Jansen (Purdue) will make his seventh start of the season for the Mallards tonight.
Madison Mallards (0-3) at Duluth Huskies (2-1)
July 8, 2008 – 7:05 p.m. (CT)
Wade Stadium – Duluth, MN
Pitching Probables:
LHP Matt Jansen (MAD) – 6 GS, 36.1 IP, 2-1, 1.73 ERA
RHP T.J. Walz (DUL) – 6 GS, 32.2 IP, 0-3, 2.76 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):
– 0-1 vs. Duluth
– 0-0 at home
– 0-3 on road
– 0-2 vs. South Division
– 0-1 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 4-1 at Duluth, July 7
Missed scoring opportunities and strikeouts proved to be the undoing for the Mallards Monday night, as they lost the series opener to the Duluth Huskies 4-1. The defeat drops the South Division first-half champion Mallards to 0-3 to start the second half. The Mallards left nine runners on base and struck out 13 times in the contest. Scott Heitshusen (Kansas) pitched six innings in his sixth start of the season but was saddled with his second loss of the year. Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) led of the offense with a pair of base hits and a walk.
Road Warriors:
The Mallards finish the series in Duluth tonight before heading to Alexandria for a pair of games to wrap up the 10-game road trip. So far the Mallards are 3-4 on the extended road stay. After the series in Alexandria the team will return to Madison on Friday, July 11 for a showdown with division-rival Wisconsin.
Let’s Play Two:
The Mallards are 4-0 in doubleheaders this season. They will try to tack on two more wins in an upcoming double-dip at La Crosse on July 21.
Mallards Musings:
-The Mallards will be represented in the 2008 Northwoods League All-Star Game by pitchers Gabriel Shaw (Louisville) and Matt Jansen (Purdue), as well as outfielder Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) and catcher Eric Nielsen (Purdue). Nielsen is appearing in his second straight All-Star Game.
– Lyerly is second in the Northwoods League with a .360 batting average in 26 games played.
-Shaw comes in fifth 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 June 30 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 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.
-Lyerly’s 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 Wikoff 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.
