Madison, WI – July 10, 2008. The Mallards extended road stay comes to an end tonight, as they wrap up a 10-game, 11-day road trip with a 6:05 p.m. game against Alexandria. Mallards All-Star Gabriel Shaw (Louisville) takes the game ball tonight. The Mallards are hosting the 2008 NWL All-Star Game on Monday, July 14. Great tickets remain for the All-Star Game and can be purchased online by clicking on Tickets or by calling the box office at 608.246.4277.
Madison Mallards (1-4) at Alexandria Beetles (3-3)
July 10, 2008 – 6:05 p.m. (CT)
Knute Nelson Memorial Park – Alexandria, MN
Pitching Probables:
RHP Gabriel Shaw (MAD) – 5 GS, 28.0 IP, 2-0, 1.29 ERA
LHP Matt Grace (ALX) – 3 GS, 14.2 IP, 1-1, 4.91 ERA
Mallards records (first half):
– 0-0 vs. Alexandria
– 10-8 at home
– 12-3 on road
– 14-6 vs. South Division
– 8-5 vs. North Division
Mallards records (second half):
– 1-0 vs. Alexandria
– 0-0 at home
– 1-4 on road
– 0-2 vs. South Division
– 1-2 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 17-5 when scoring first
– 3-4 in extra innings
– 7-4 in one-run games
– 15-1 when leading after 7 innings
– 15-2 when outhitting its opponent
– 16-1 when scoring 7+ runs
– 15-4 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: W 7-5 at Alexandria, July 9
Outfielder Trent Soares (Fresno State) and shortstop Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) helped the Madison Mallards come back against the Alexandria Beetles Wednesday evening for a 7-5 victory. Soares scored twice, knocked in three runs and had three hits as he capped a three-run rally in the top of the 8th inning. The Mallards battle the Beetles again tonight and will try to sweep the series before returning home from a ten-game road trip.
Road Warriors:
The Mallards wrap up the 10-game road trip in Alexandria tonight. So far the Mallards are 4-5 on the extended road stay. After the series finale in Alexandria the team will return to Madison for a Friday showdown with South Division-leading 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 tonight’s starting pitcher Gabriel Shaw (Louisville) and pitcher 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 fourth in the Northwoods League with a .349 batting average in 28 games played.
-Luke Stewart (UAB) is tied for sixth in the Northwoods League with four home runs.
-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 sixth 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.
On Sunday, July 13, the Mallards will host an All-Star Fan Fest at 2:00 p.m. before giving way to the Home Run Derby at 4:30 p.m. The All-American Challenge will follow at 6:05 p.m., pitting local Home Talent League All-Stars versus a Military All-Star Team. The Mallards will then host the 2008 All-Star Game on Monday, July 14 at 7:05 p.m. broadcast live on ESPNU at the “Duck Pond.” Tickets remain for both dates and can be purchased online at Mallardsbaseball.com or by calling the box office at 608.246.4277.
