Eau Claire, WI – June 21, 2009. Mother Nature didn’t care for baseball Sunday as the first-place showdown between the Mallards and Express only lasted all of six outs before succoming to rain shower after rain shower. The game will be made up on Thursday as part of a home-and-night doubleheader as the Mallards were already travelling back to Eau Claire for a two-game set beginning that evening at 6:35 p.m.
Kurtis Muller (Iowa) led off the Mallards top half of the first inning with a walk but was unable to advance any further after a Joe De Pinto (USC) popout to the catcher, an Adam McClain (Memphis) ground out to first, and a Joe Patterson (Texas A&M) swinging strikeout, the team was kept off the scoreboard in its lone opportunity to hit.
Left-hander Matt Jansen (Purdue) received the start tonight for the Mallards and ran into some trouble in the first inning. After leadoff man Brooks Pinckard (Baylor) begain the game with a bunt single down the first base line, he proceeded to steal second base on the very next pitch. Andy Leonard (UIC) then followed with a bunt of his own to sacrifice Pinckard to third base. Rafael Neda (New Mexico) then ripped a one-out single to score Pinckard and give the Express a 1-0 lead.
Eau Claire’s starting pitcher, Tyler Bremer (UC-Irvine), threw three pitches in the top half of the second to Mark Ginther (Oklahoma State) before being lifted due to an injured back. It didn’t matter, as the skies then opened up and the game was delayed at 7:35 p.m. This came after the start of the game was delayed one full hour and didn’t begin until 7:05 p.m.
The Mallards will now enjoy a day off on Monday before beginning a two-game series versus the La Crosse Loggers at Copeland Park on Tuesday evening. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.
The tarp was actually lifted again at 8:05 p.m. and both teams looked to retake the field and resume action. However, another downpour immediately ensued and both teams decided to suspend the game. The contest will begin in the top of the second inning with a 1-2 count to Ginther.
Meanwhile Eau Claire is in action on Monday to begin a two-game tilt versus the last place Waterloo Bucks in Iowa. You can watch that game live by visiting NorthwoodsLeague.tv.
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Fans, the Mallards return home this Saturday for the ever-popular Rhythm & Booms fireworks show! Don’t forget we’ll also hold our second annual TQ Diamonds “Diamond Dig” whereby the first 1,000 ladies will receive the opportunity to dig through the infield dirt to find a real diamond! Plus, it’s Culver’s Night…time to get Culverized. The movie “Field of Dreams” will also be shown in the outfield after the big fireworks display!
Click here to purchase tickets for any of the Mallards remaining games!
