Duluth, MN -July 9, 2009. Exceptional starting pitching and timely hitting were the story again tonight as the Mallards leave Duluth with a 3-1 victory over the Huskies and a one-game lead in the South Division heading into this weekend’s games at the “Duck Pond.”
Madison pitcher Derek Self (Louisville, pictured below) was in command throughout the night in only allowing one unearned run in eight innings of work. He (2-1) scattered five hits and lowered his ERA to 3.22 on the year. Newcomer Brandon Johnson (Western Carolina) then entered the game after Denny Clement (Texas A&M) was forced to leave the game with an undisclosed injury after allowing a leadoff single to Todd Baumgartner (Arkansas St.). Johnson did the job in getting the final three outs to record his first save of the season.
Duluth starter Drew Smyly (Arkansas) picked up his first loss of the year (0-1) after allowing 2 runs (zero earned) on 3 hits over 6 innings.
The Mallards struck in the first inning when leadoff man Kurtis Muller (Iowa) struckout but advanced to first base on an error by catcher Nick McCoy (San Diego). After a John Hicks (Virginia) putout, Muller advanced to second on a sacrifice fly by Mark Ginther (Oklahoma State). First baseman Harold Riggins (NC State) then hit a ball to the shortstop that resulted in an error, and 1-0 lead for Madison.
Duluth would tie the game in the bottom of the second inning on a two-out single by Zac Elgie (Kansas) to score Andy Burns (Kentucky) who doubled earlier.
In the fourth inning, Jerrud Sabourin (Indiana) was hit by a pitch with one out to begin another scoring threat. Troy Channing (St. Mary’s) then strolled to the plate and hit a ground ball to the third baseman that resulted in an overthrow at second base in trying for the force-out. The ball rolled into right field and into the glove of Nick Rickles who proceeded to throw the ball to home plate as Sabourin bluffed around third base, and Channing was able to sneak to second base. Up came Jacob Esch (Georgia Tech) who stroked an RBI single to score Sabourin and extend the team’s lead to 2-0.
The Mallards would tack on an insurance run in the eighth when Sabourin led off the frame with a single and was pinch-ran for by Chris Barker (MATC). The decision paid off as Barker was able to scoot to second base on a passed ball and later moved to third when Esch recorded another hit. With runners on the corners, Jimmy Parque (St. John’s) entered the game for Trent Soares (Fresno State) and came up huge, in hitting a sacrifice fly to center field to score Barker and give the Mallards a much-needed run to make the score 3-1.
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Fans, the Mallards return home Friday at 7:05 pm. and we’ve got quite the offer for you! If Friday’s game is canceled due to inclement weather, all fans still in attendance will receive a FREE Great Dane Duck Blind ticket to a future game! Too good to be true? It isn’t…click here to learn how.
Friday is Bud Light Hockey Night with a special appearance by Steve Carlson, an original Hanson Brother from the movie Slap Shot! The first 750 adults, 21 and over will receive a Bud Light Can Cooler!
