Madison, WI – August 6, 2008. A four-run Mallards fourth inning brought them within one run of the La Crosse Loggers Wednesday night at the “Duck Pond,” but they would get no closer and the Loggers won the game 9-5 in front of 7,044 fans. The Loggers received three hits by B.J. Guinn and a two-run home run by Cory Vaughn to power their offense against Kyle Heim (Iowa) and three Mallards relievers. The Mallards offense was paced by two hits from both Drew Martin (NC State) and Rob Lyerly (Charlotte). The loss drops the Mallards to 33-30 overall and 11-19 in the second half, with five games remaining in the half.
Don Lambert (Baylor) and Joe Bonadonna (Illinois) also added RBIs in the game and each scored a run. Phil Gosselin (Virginia) also had a run and RBI for the Mallards. Kevin Zalnis joined Guinn and Vaughn with multiple hits on the night, as did Andy Pascoe. Randy Rundgren scored twice for the Loggers.
Heim made his third start of the season for the Mallards and La Crosse scored one run on two hits to take the lead after one-half inning. Guinn singled to second base and stole second base. Following a flyout to right by P.J. Polk, Kevin Zalnis singled to left field, scoring Guinn from second.
Loggers All-Star left-hander Aaron Dott showed why he is one of the best hurlers in the league, allowing just a first inning one-out walk to Martin through the first three Mallards at-bats. La Crosse added to their lead with three runs on two hits and two errors in the top of the third, when Guinn reached on a bunt single and advanced to second when Martin threw the ball away. P.J. Polk flew out to deep to center field, which allowed Guinn to move to third ahead of a walk by Zalnis. Zalnis then took off for second base on a steal attempt and reached safely, while Guinn trotted home as the throw down to second by Eric Nielsen (Purdue) squirted away. Vaughn then stepped up and drilled a two-run home run to deep left field to put the Loggers ahead 4-0.
The top of the fourth saw La Crosse tally another run to take a 5-0 lead. But the Mallards offense awoke in the bottom of the inning, as the team scored four runs on four hits to trim the La Crosse lead to 5-4. Lyerly singled through the left side with one out for the first Mallards hit of the night. Gosselin then tripled to center field that scored Lyerly to put the Mallards on the scoreboard. The triple was Gosselin’s sixth of the season, which is a new Mallards single-season record. Pinch-hitter Luke Stewart (UAB) walked to put runners on first and third and Bonadonna doubled down the left field line to bring home Gosselin and advance Stewart to third. Both runners moved up 90 feet on a passed ball and after a groundout, Lambert singled home Bonadonna for the fourth run in the frame.
But the Mallards gave back all the ground they had gained in the next half-inning, when the Loggers added four runs off new Mallards pitcher Travis High (NC State) to jump back out to a five-run lead. The big blow in the inning was a two-out, two-run home run by Justin Toole.
Dott was relieved by Chris Sale in the sixth inning and he shut down the Mallards in three innings of work, allowing just two hits while striking out seven. Wade Kapteyn finished the game for the Loggers and gave up one final run for the Mallards, an RBI single to second base by Martin. Andy Deain (Northern Illinois) and Nathan Kafka (Minnesota State) finished the game for the Mallards, with each working an inning and allowing one hit apiece.
The Mallards and the Loggers will move the series to La Crosse for a 7:05 p.m. contest. After tomorrow’s game the Mallards will return to the “Duck Pond” to conclude the home portion of the regular season schedule on Friday and Saturday against the Waterloo Bucks. On Friday it is Fireside Hearth & Home Picture Frame Night, with the first 1,000 fans receiving the giveaway. There will also be an opportunity to meet the bounty hunter from Star Wars, “Boba Fett” Daniel Logan!
On Saturday it will be Fan Appreciation Day at the “Duck Pond!” There will be great giveaways all game long, and the first 1,000 fans will get Mallards Baseball Cards, courtesy of Quench Gum.
