Madison, WI – June 12, 2012. The Madison Mallards (6-7) will finish up their two game series against the Wisconsin Woodchucks (7-6) tonight at Athletic Park in Wausau. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm.
The Mallards suffered a 9-6 loss Monday night at the hands of the Woodchucks. The Mallards used five different pitchers on the mound. The staff struggled with their command all night as they issued six walks, hit three batters, and threw seven wild pitches. The Mallards defense was also shaky, with four errors in the game.
Tonight the Mallards will send right-hander Matt LaMothe (Georgia College and State) to the mound. Lamothe is 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA through his first two starts this summer. In his last outing he pitched 6.0 innings, gave up one run on six hits and struck out eight Green Bay Bullfrogs in a 2-1 Mallards victory on June 6th.
The Mallards will need to improve their defense from the past three games. Their 11 errors is a big reason for their 1-2 record over that span. The Mallards will need shortstop Tom Verdi (Connecticut) to improve his defense. His eight errors leads the team and he has struggled so far this season. At Connecticut this season he batted .289 and had just 13 errors.
Offensively the Mallards will welcome utility player Jose Trevino (Oral Roberts) to their lineup for the first time this season. Trevino, a 5’9″, 185 pound freshman from Corpus Christi, Texas lead Oral Roberts by hitting .317 with 13 home runs and 57 RBIs. He was recently named a Second-Team Freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He broke Oral Roberts freshman records for home runs, RBIs, and hits (78). The Mallards will look to Trevino to help their struggling offense which is currently in last place in runs scored in the Northwoods League with 43.
The Woodchucks will start Jack Fischer (Wake Forest) to battle against LaMothe. The Hinsdale, Illinois native will make his Northwoods League debut against the Mallards. This season, while at Wake Forest he compiled a 5-4 record and 2.84 ERA while making 22 appearances, including five starts.
The Mallards returns to the “Duck Pond” on Wednesday June 13th to take on the Bombers That night will be The Payroll Company Police Appreciation Night at the Ballpark featuring Erik Estrada from the hit TV show ChiPs.
The 2012 season is upon us! Single-game tickets are on-sale for all Mallards home games
The Madison Mallards are part of the 16-team Northwoods League. The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America.
