Green Bay, WI – July 2, 2009. The Madison Mallards officially put the Northwoods League first half of the season behind themselves Thursday night in an 8-3 loss to the Green Bay Bullfrogs at Joannes Stadium in front of 1,320 people.
The Mallards finished the first half with a 19-15 record while the Bullfrogs concluded at 14-19. South Division First Half Champion Eau Claire Express lost to Madison’s next opponent, the Wisconsin Woodchucks by a final score of 3-0, and finished with a 21-9 mark after they had 4 games canceled.
Tonight, the Mallards couldn’t overcome a four-run first inning by the Bullfrogs that got off to an inauspicious start. Beaver Dam native Collin Kuhn (Arkansas) started the game by taking the first pitch from Mallards starter Brad Allen (Elgin CC) off the left shoulder to advance to first base. After Sam VandenHeuvel (Rhode Island) flew out to right field, Jacob House (Arkansas) recorded a base hit to right field that was misplayed by outfielder Adam McClain (Memphis) and both runners advanced to second and third base. First baseman Nick O’Shea (Minnesota) then struck out and it appeared that Allen and the Mallards would end the inning unscathed. However, the next three hitters in Riley Henricks (Portland), Joel Hutter (Des Moines), and Kyle Robinson recorded back-to-back hits to drive in four runs and give the Bullfrogs a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The Mallards got on the board in the top of the fourth inning on a lead-off home run by first baseman Troy Channing (St. Mary’s), his third of the year. That knock made the score 4-1.
But the Bullfrogs would answer in the bottom half of the inning after Henricks doubled and Hutter drove him in with a single to right field.
Madison added two runs in the seventh inning to make the score 6-3 when Jacob Esch (Georgia Tech) hit a two-out double to score catcher Tyson Blaser (Iowa) and second baseman Kurtis Muller (Iowa). Blaser got on with a base hit while Muller scooted to first on an error by first baseman O’Shea.
Green Bay answered yet again in the bottom half with two runs of their own off Mallards reliever Jordan Hershiser (USC) with an RBI double by Paul Hoenecke (UW-Milwaukee) and single by Robinson to widen their lead to 8-3. Relievers Matthew Kimball (Brown) and Alex Schmarzo (St. Mary’s) then shutdown the Mallards offense in the eighth and ninth innings to end the game and give the Frogs the victory.
Allen (0-2) took the loss for Madison after allowing six runs (two earned) and nine hits in only four innings of work. Blaser led all Mallards batters with two hits on the evening.
Meanwhile, Bullfrogs starting pitcher Chuck Lukanen (N. Illinois) picked up his league-leading fifth win of the year by holding the Mallards to five hits and one run through six innings.
Madison and Wisconsin will do battle Friday at 6:35 p.m. at Athletic Park in game one of the second half. The Mallards then enjoy an off-day on Sunday before returning home to the “Duck Pond” on Monday and Tuesday to play the Battle Creek Bombers (21-12) in a pivotal South Division showdown.
Catch all Mallards action on the road by dialing in to FM 100.5 ESPN or by visiting espnmadison.com for a live stream of the game.
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Fans, the Mallards return home this Monday, July 6th, in search of a second-half championship and playoff spot, and they need your help to get the “Duck Pond” rocking once again. Monday’s promotion is the Verizon Wireless Mock Uniform T-Shirt Night (first 1,000 fans). Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with the first pitch beginning at 7:05 p.m.
Click here to purchase tickets for Monday or please call us at 608.246.4277 today!
