Madison, WI – July 29, 2008. The Mallards welcome the Wisconsin Woodchucks to the “Duck Pond” tonight for a 7:05 contest. The home team has won each of the seven meetings between the two rivals, a trend that the Mallards hope continues tonight. The current nine-game losing streak is the longest in Mallards franchise history. Right-hander Alex Rivers (Santa Clara) will take the mound tonight for the Mallards, against Woodchucks righty Kyle Mertins. It is Maynard G. Mallard Bobblehead Night, courtesy of U.S. Cellular (first 1,000 fans).

Wisconsin Woodchucks (33-21, 11-9) at Madison Mallards (29-26, 7-15)
July 29, 2008 – 7:05 p.m. (CT)
Warner Park – Madison, WI

Pitching Probables:
RHP Alex Rivers (MAD) – 6 GS, 38.1 IP, 2-1, 3.99 ERA
RHP Kyle Mertins (WSC) – 8 GS, 45.1 IP, 2-3, 3.38 ERA

Mallards records (first half):
– 2-0 vs. Wisconsin
– 10-8 at home
– 12-3 on road
– 14-6 vs. South Division
– 8-5 vs. North Division

Mallards records (second half):
– 1-4 vs. Wisconsin
– 5-3 at home
– 2-12 on road
– 4-12 vs. South Division
– 3-3 vs. North Division

Madison is…
– 22-9 when scoring first
– 3-6 in extra innings
– 7-7 in one-run games
– 21-3 when leading after 7 innings
– 20-4 when outhitting its opponent
– 21-2 when scoring 7+ runs
– 20-10 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent

Last time out for the Mallards: L 5-3 (11) at Wisconsin, July 28
Troy Frazier’s two-run home run in the bottom of the 11th, his second of the night, gave the Mallards their ninth straight loss and powered the Woodchucks to a 5-3 victory Monday night in Wausau. The Mallards and the Woodchucks needed extra innings for the fourth time in seven meetings this season, and the home team has won each of the contests. Brant Combs (Missouri State) took the loss and fell to 4-5 on the year. Brad Riddle pitched the 10th and 11th for the Woodchucks to pick up the win. The Mallards fell to 7-15 in the second half with the defeat.

Mallards Musings:
-The current nine-game losing streak is the longest in franchise history
-The Mallards are second in the league in runs scored as a team (291). Wisconsin leads the league with 295 runs scored.
-Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) is fourth in the Northwoods League with a .333 batting average in 44 games played.
-Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) is fourth in the league in runs scored with 39.
-Luke Stewart’s (UAB) six home runs put him in a tie for fifth in the league.
-Brant Combs (Missouri State) has appeared in the second-most games in the league this season (26).
-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.

With a first-half Northwoods League South Division championship under their belts the Madison Mallards are returning to the postseason after a one-year hiatus and all tickets are now on sale. The team will be hosting its first playoff game on either August 12 or 13 (determined by best overall record of the two South Division postseason foes).

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 $ 36 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.

Playoff tickets can be purchased online at Mallardsbaseball.com, by phone at 246.4277, or by visiting the box office at the “Duck Pond.”