by Peter Geppert
Madison, Wisconsin. July 6, 2012 – Mallards’ shortstop Tom Verdi (Connecticut) connected on a fastball in the twelfth inning off of Express reliever Tony Vocca (Utah) to get his first home run of the season and deliver the Madison Mallards (2-0, 18-19) an 8-6 win over the Eau Claire Express (0-2, 11-25). The win gave the Mallards the second game of the three game series to put them in a position to sweep tomorrow.
For the second consecutive night Express first baseman Casey Gillaspie (Wichita State) began the evening’s scoring with a two run homer to left field. The home run, his seventh of the season, put the Express up 2-0.
The Mallards responded in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI groundout by third baseman Jose Trevino (Oral Roberts). With right fielder Tyler Marincov (North Florida) on third base, Trevino hit a hard ground ball to Express shortstop Ty Forney (Texas-Permian Basin) who chose to take the out at first rather than contest Marincov at the plate.
The Mallards added an insurance run in the sixth inning with Marincov’s third RBI of the game. With center fielder Mike Gerber (Creighton) on third base, Marincov dribbled a grounder to Express second baseman Tim Zier (San Diego State). Zier was unable to make the play on Marincov and allowed Gerber to score.
The Express weren’t done yet though, as right fielder Josh Scheffert (Nebraska) tied the game in the eighth inning with a deep two run shot to center field off of Mallards reliever Will Lamarche (Chabot College).
Neither team would score until the 10th inning, when Scheffert hit his second two run home run of the game off of Mallards closer John Hamilton (UNC-Charlotte) to put the Express up 6-4.
The lead didn’t last long, as first baseman Jeff Zimmerman (Northern Illinois) tied the game at six with a deep home run to left field. The homer scored third baseman Jose Trevino (Oral Roberts) who led off the inning with a single.
Verdi had had enough by the twelfth inning, when his two run blast to left field allowed the Mallards to walk-off for the fourth time this year.
Mallards reliever Danny Sullivan (Madison College) got the win after pitching a scoreless 12th inning to setup the Mallards victory in the bottom half of the frame.
Mallards starter Kurt Giller (Oral Roberts) was solid in his fifth start of the season, going 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
Vocca (1-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up the walk-off home run to Verdi. Through 3.2 innings of relief the right-hander gave up four runs on six hits and walked one.
News and Notes:
Marincov’s 10th home run of the season in the fifth inning broke the Mallards single season home record of nine.
By allowing two runs in the fifth inning Express starter Philip Walby (San Diego State) continued the fifth inning woes for the Express. So far this season the Express have allowed 51 runs in the fifth inning, the most of any inning for the team. The next closest inning for the Express is the eight inning, which is 33 runs. Overall the 51 runs account for approximately one-quarter of the runs the Express have surrendered.
Gerber was superb in his Mallards debut, going 4-4 with four singles and one run scored.
The 12 innings were the most played by the Mallards this season.
Mallards catcher Mike Reuvekamp (California) left in the ninth inning after suffering an apparent hand injury during warm-up tosses.
The Mallards will finish off their three game series with the Express at the “Duck Pond” tomorrow, July 7th. That night fans will have a chance to meet wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler presented by Charter Communications.
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.
