Eau Claire, WI – June 25, 2009. Eau Claire’s Brooks Pinckard (Baylor) blasted a go-ahead grand slam in the fourth inning and starting pitcher Louis Head (Texas Tech) threw eight strong innings as the Express defeated the Mallards 7-4 Thursday night at Carson Park in game one of a doubleheader.
The win officially closes the books on a game that supposed to be played last Sunday, but was suspended after completion of only one inning because of rain. The Mallards now find themselves three games behind the first-place Express with eight games left in the first half.
Mallards starter Derek Self (Louisville) picked up the loss (1-1) after allowing six earned runs in 3.1 innings while striking out only one Express batter. His opposition in Eau Claire right hander Head (2-0) picked up the win in going the entire distance and allowing three earned runs and five hits in the 8-inning affair.
Offensively, Madison was led by third baseman Mark Ginther (Oklahoma State) who went 2-for-4 that included his third home run of the season in the third inning. Only three other Mallards recorded a hit to bring the team’s game total to five.
It was Pinckard who shined for the Express on this night. The first baseman went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI, that came from a back-breaking grand slam in the fourth inning to regain a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Game two was scheduled to begin around 8:30 p.m.
