by Peter Geppert
Madison, WI- June 27, 2012- The Madison Mallards (12-17) and Wisconsin Woodchucks (14-14) combined for 17 walks and eight errors in a sloppily played marathon contest that eventually saw the Woodchucks emerge as 11-8 winners. The win gave the Woodchucks the rubber match of the three game series.
The Mallards took advantage of a rough start by Woodchucks starter Pascal Paul (Western Iowa) to score two runs in the first inning. With right fielder Tyler Marincov (North Florida) on second base, second baseman Mike Reuvekamp (California) attempted to bunt Marincov over to third. The bunt was bobbled by Paul (1-1) and then threw wide to first, allowing Marincov to score. Reuvekamp would later score on an RBI single by third baseman Nicholas Howard (Virginia).
The Woodchucks struck back to even the score in the second inning with a solo homer by catcher Skyler Ewing (Rice) and an RBI single by second baseman Brandon Cogswell (Virginia) that scored left fielder Brad McKewon (Creighton) from third.
In the fourth inning, the Woodchucks took their first lead of the game on Cogswell’s second RBI single of the game, this time allowing shortstop Mike Bernal (Oklahoma State) to score.
The Mallards responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs to regain the lead. The rally was highlighted by three straight hits to start the inning, including an RBI single by shortstop Tom Verdi (Connecticut).
Mallards relievers Justin Topa (Long Island) and Danny Sullivan (Madison College) would hand the Woodchucks the lead in the sixth inning on a combined five walks, resulting in three Woodchucks reaching home via a walk. The Woodchucks added one more on a past ball by Mallards catcher Taylor Gushue (Florida) that scored right fielder Eric Filia-Snyder (UCLA) to make the score 7-4.
The Mallards battled back in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI double by Marincov that scored center fielder John Welborn (Texas-San Antonio) to bring the Mallards deficit down to two runs.
The Woodchucks added two runs to their lead in the seventh inning on a throwing error by Gushue and an RBI single by Filia-Snyder. With McKewon on second base and taking off to steal third, Gushue’s throw went ab-
ove Howard’s head and into the outfield, allowing McKewon to score.
Gushue would bounce back in the bottom half of the inning with a towering three run homer to left field, his first ofthe season, making the score 9-8. The Mallards threatened further, loading the bases, but were unable to tie or take the lead after first baseman Jeff Zimmerman lined out to McKewon to end the inning.
The Woodchucks got an insurance run in the eighth inning off the bat of Ewing for his second RBI of the game, this time on a single that scored third baseman JD Davis (Cal State Fullerton).
Woodchucks reliever Max Ising (Creighton) shut down any chance of a Mallards comeback in the ninth inning. Ising began the inning by allowing the Mallards to get runners on first and second with no outs, but was able to settle down and retire the next three batters to get his third save of the season.
Topa (0-1) was tagged with the loss after walking in the tying run and go ahead run in the sixth inning. In 0.1
innings Topa walked four and allowed four runs on one hit.
Paul got the win for the Woodchucks in his fourth start of the season, going 5.1 innings and allowing five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
The Mallards will look to start their run at a second half playoff run with an improved performance against the Woodchucks, in the first half of the season the Mallards went 1-4 in two series between the two teams.
The Mallards head to La Crosse tomorrow to start a three game series with the South Division leading La Crosse Loggers (20-7).
The Mallards return to the “Duck Pond” on Friday June 29th to play the second game of their series with the Loggers. That night will feature “Duck Pond” LEGO kits presented by briXwerX studios and in-game entertainment by Inflatamaniacs.
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.
