Madison, WI – June 13, 2012. The Madison Mallards (6-8) return to the “Duck Pond” to play the first game of a three game series against the Battle Creek Bombers (7-7). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
On Monday the Mallards were shutout for the second time this season, losing to the Wisconsin Woodchucks (8-6) 4-0. Woodchucks starting pitcher Jake Fischer (Wake Forest) kept the Mallards off balance and off the scoreboard in his first start of the season, allowing two hits in 5.0 innings of work.
The loss spoiled Mallards starter Matt LaMothe’s (Georgia College and State) second straight quality start. Through 6.0 innings the righty had nine strikeouts, fanning five straight Woodchucks at one point. The two runs LaMothe (2-1) allowed were enough to give him his first loss of the season.
Taking the ball for the Mallards will be right-hander Trevor Foss (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi). Foss (1-0) was spectacular his last start, giving up no runs and striking out eight in 7.0 innings and delivering the Mallards a 1-0 win over the Green Bay Bullfrogs (7-7) on June 7th. The right-hander has left hitters in the dust in his first two starts, his 19 strikeouts are tied for second in the Northwoods League.
Lefty Caleb Vincent (Grand Valley State) will start for the Bombers. His last start Vincent gave up four earned runs and five hits in a 5-4 loss to the Lakeshore Chinooks (8-6).
Mallards pitchers will have to look out for Bomber catcher Kyle Figgins (Buffalo). After a slow start to the season the righty is starting to heat up, hitting in six of his last seven games and getting five RBIs over that stretch.
With the Mallards struggling on offense a couple of new arrivals will be expected to produce immediate results on the scoreboard. The Mallards will activate outfielder Derek Fisher (Virginia) and infielders Nick Howard (Virginia) and Michael McGraw (Missouri). Fisher hit cleanup and was the most productive hitters for one of the top programs in the country, driving in 50 runs for the Cavaliers.
Offensively the Bombers have experienced a power outage in their lineup at the start of the season, their two home runs is last in the Northwoods League.
Wednesdays game against the Bombers marks the first of a five game home stand for the Mallards, their longest home stand of the 2012 season.
The Mallards will play the second game of the series against the Bombers at the “Duck Pond” on Thursday June 14th. That night will be Verno’s Custom Tattoo Night at the ballpark. Fans can get free full-color Mallards tattoos pre-game and get two free Great Dane Duck Blind tickets for doing so. The first 500 kids who walk through the gates will be given temporary tattoos.
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 League in North America.
