Last night’s Box Score
Madison, WI – July 7, 2009. The Mallards played long ball last night, hitting a total of four home runs in downing the Bombers 8-5 in game one of their South Division battle at the “Duck Pond”. Madison will go for the series sweep and try to stay unbeaten in the second half when they host Battle Creek at 7:05 p.m. tonight.
Battle Creek (1-2) got on the board first with a run in the first inning, but the Mallards responded with a Harold Riggins (NC State) single up the middle to knot things up at 1-apiece after the opening frame. John Hicks (Virginia) then gave Madison (3-0) the lead with his first home run as a Mallard, a solo shot to lead off the second inning.
In the third, the Mallards put up a 4-spot. Riggins led off with a solo home run and Trent Soares (Fresno State) followed with a 3-run blast later in the inning to give Madison a 6-1 lead. They added two more runs, one on a Troy Channing solo shot to center field for the final tally. Riggins finished the day 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI while Channing chipped in a 2-for-3 day with an RBI and two runs scored. Jerrud Sabourin (Indiana) also had a two-hit day, driving in a run with an RBI double and upping his season average to .304.
Jacob Esch (Georgia Tech) earned his first victory of the year, moving to 1-1 after six solid innings allowing three runs on 10 hits while striking out seven. The Mallards will send Cody Winiarski (MATC) to the mound tonight with a 4-2 record and a 1.90 ERA over 10 appearances and six starts. He’ll face Battle Creek’s Matt Talley (The Citadel) who has also pitched well this season with a 3-2 record and a 2.04 ERA in six starts.
Tonight will be American Family Insurance Uniform Pillow Night (first 1,000 kids, 14 & under). Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 7:05 p.m. first pitch start.
Click here to purchase tickets for tonight’s ballgame or please call us at 608.246.4277 today!
Blast Off!
The Mallards have already shattered the team record for home runs in a season this year. With four dingers last night, they have 35 as a team and that’s 11 more than their previous record of 24 set back in 2003. Individual achievements are on the verge of reaching new heights as well. Riggins hit his seventh home run of the season last night, tying Francois Larmore of Marshall from 2003 for most home runs in a season by a Mallard. Several players aren’t too far behind either. Mark Ginther (Oklahoma State) and Channing currently have five homers while Adam McClain (Memphis), Kurtis Muller (Iowa) and Joe Patterson (Texas A&M) each have three homers apiece on the year.
