Madison, WI – July 27, 2008. Matt Jansen (Purdue) will make his tenth start of the season for the Mallards tonight against the Waterloo Bucks, looking to pitch the Mallards into the win column for the first time in seven games. Waterloo defeated Madison last night 6-5 in 10 innings and will send right-hander Garrett Nix to the hill to try to get the series sweep. It is Doggie Day at the “Duck Pond!” Bring your dog to the game and get a free bleacher ticket. All dogs will receive a Mallards bandanna and a gift bag, and there will be great raffle prizes all game long. The first 1,000 kids 14 & under will also receive a Mallards baseball, courtesy of Thrift Painting.

Waterloo Bucks (21-28, 7-10) at Madison Mallards (29-24, 7-13)
July 27, 2008 – 5:05 p.m. (CT)
Warner Park – Madison, WI

Pitching Probables:
LHP Matt Jansen (MAD) – 9 GS, 51.0 IP, 2-3, 2.12 ERA
RHP Garrett Nix (WTL) – 5 GS, 35.1 IP, 1-2, 3.82 ERA

Mallards records (first half):
– 3-1 vs. Waterloo
– 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. Waterloo
– 5-2 at home
– 2-11 on road
– 4-10 vs. South Division
– 3-3 vs. North Division

Madison is…
– 22-9 when scoring first
– 3-5 in extra innings
– 7-7 in one-run games
– 21-2 when leading after 7 innings
– 20-4 when outhitting its opponent
– 21-2 when scoring 7+ runs
– 20-8 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent

Last time out for the Mallards: L 6-5 vs. Waterloo, July 26
The Madison Mallards mounted a late-inning comeback against the Waterloo Bucks Saturday night to tie the game at five and send it to extra innings, but Waterloo scored a run in the tenth and held on to win the game 6-5 in front of 7,464 fans at the “Duck Pond.” The Mallards were down 5-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but added one in that frame and three more in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. The loss was the seventh in a row for the Mallards and drops their record to 7-13 in the second half. James Jones moved from first base to the mound in the bottom of the ninth and worked two innings to earn the win, while Andy Deain (1-3) (Northern Illinois) took the loss for the Mallards.

Mallards Musings:
-All of Madison’s 15 remaining games are against South Division foes.
-The Mallards lead the league in runs scored as a team (284). Wisconsin is second with 282 runs scored.
-Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) is third in the Northwoods League with a .337 batting average in 43 games played.
-Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) is fourth in the league in runs scored with 36.
-Luke Stewart’s (UAB) six home runs put him in a tie for fourth in the league.
-Brant Combs (Missouri State) has appeared in the second-most games in the league this season (24).
-Wikoff reached base in the first 22 games he played at the “Duck Pond” to start the season. He was 0-for-5 on July 26 to snap the streak. It is tied for the longest home consecutive on-base streak in the league this season.
-Joe Bonadonna (Illinois) became the fifth Mallard to win Northwoods League Player of the Night when he reached base five times against Battle Creek on July 19. He was 3-for-3 with two singles and a double, and also drew two walks and scored three times.
-Wikoff earned Northwoods League Player of the Night July 10 when he reached base six times with three singles and three walks. He scored five runs for the Mallards.
-Drew Martin (NC State) was NWL Player of the Night on July 3 when he was 5-for-7 in two games at Battle Creek on the last day of the first half.
-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.
-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’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 fourth-longest hitting streak in the Northwoods League this season.
-Wikoff had a 10-game hitting streak snapped on June 28. It was the Mallards second-longest hitting streak of the season.
-From the beginning of the season on May 29 until June 15 Wikoff reached base in 16 consecutive games.

Playoff tickets can be purchased in a package of all four potential home playoff games. Single-game playoff tickets will go on sale to the public on July 29. Playoff tickets can be purchased by calling 608.246.4277 or by visiting the Mallards box office.

Box seats for the playoffs will be $ 9, with bleacher seats priced at $ 8. Cheap seats can be purchased for $ 7 and standing room only tickets will be available for $ 6. The Duck Blind will be open for the playoffs, with beer tickets priced at $ 26 for Sunday-Wednesday games and $ 31 for Thursday-Saturday nights. Duck Blind soda tickets will be $ 21 or $ 26. Reserved seats in the Duck Blind will be $ 31 for Sunday-Wednesday games and for Thursday-Saturday nights. Suites are also available for playoff games and fans can receive more details by calling the Mallards box office and asking for group sales.

More details on playoff games at the “Duck Pond” will be made available on mallardsbaseball.com as soon as the second half of the regular season concludes. Tickets for the remainder of the Mallards regular season home schedule can be purchased online, in person at the Box Office or by calling 608.246.4277.