by Peter Geppert
Madison, WI- July 1, 2012. The Madison Mallards (15-18) scored in the first six innings of the game to run away from the Eau Claire Express (10-22) with an 8-4 win. The victory gave the Mallards the one game set against the Express and allowed them to sweep their three game weekend home stand.
The Mallards started the scoring in the first inning with a sacrifice fly by third baseman Jose Trevino (Oral Roberts) that allowed left fielder Derek Fisher (Virginia) to tag up from third base to score.
In the second inning, the Mallards continued to plug away with an RBI single by right fielder Tyler Marincov (North Florida), his 29th RBI of the year. The hit allowed second baseman Mike Reuvekamp (California) to score and double the Mallards advantage.
The Express would get to Mallards starter Trevor Foss (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) in the third inning to take a 3-2 lead. Center fielder Nick Addison (UI-Chicago) launched a deep ball to center field that was initially caught by Mallards center fielder John Welborn (Texas-San Antonio). Welborn was unable to hold on when they hit the wall, allowing right fielder Jimmy Allen (Cal Poly) and second baseman Tyler Wampler (Indiana State) to score and tie the game.
Addison got the Express their first lead of the game that inning when a wild pitch by Foss (2-3) allowed him to reach home from third base.
The Mallards responded in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single of his own, a hard hit grounder up the middle that allowed designated hitter Jeff Zimmerman (Northern Illinois) to score from second base.
The Mallards regained the lead in the fourth inning with a two out RBI single by Zimmerman that drove in Marincov from third base.
The Mallards continued to pour it on in the fifth inning when Welborn was able to drive a ball into the gap to bring first baseman Jack Livingston (Northwestern) home from third.
In the sixth inning the Mallards broke the game open with three runs on three hits that included RBI singles from catcher Taylor Gushue (Florida) and Livingston, his second of the game, to put the Mallards lead at five.
Foss bounced back nicely from a rough start in his previous outing to get his first win since a 1-0 June 7th win over the Green Bay Bullfrogs (20-11). Through 7.0 innings the Janesville native allowed three runs on two hits with three strikeouts.
Express starter Drew Ghelfi (Minnesota) got the loss in his first start of the season. The right-hander couldn’t keep the Mallards off the scoreboard, allowing one run in each inning that he was on the mound. On the night Ghelfi (0-3) went 5.0 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.
Trevino didn’t take long to get comfortable in the confines of the “Duck Pond” after returning from a stint with Team USA’s collegiate team. The Corpus Christi, Texas native gave the Mallards their first lead of the game in his first time at the plate with a sacrifice fly.
Livingston is starting to heat up for the Mallards, in his last five games the lefty is hitting .571 with one home run and two RBIs.
After tonight’s game the Mallards will get their first off day since the season began on May 30th. The Mallards will head up to Wisconsin Rapids the following day to return to action on July 3rd against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (14-16).
The Mallards return to the “Duck Pond” on Thursday July 5th to begin a three game series with the Express. That night will be the Jay Hazen Dentistry for Madison Vintage Bobble Boy giveaway and Badger Honor Flight Military Appreciation Night.
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.
