By: Ryan Hill — Public Relations
Madison, WI — May 29, 2013. The Mallards managed to come away with a 4-2 victory in six and a half innings on Opening Night Wednesday at the “Duck Pond” despite registering only two hits. The Mallards took advantage of three Express errors by scoring two unearned runs which proved to be the difference in the game.
Right fielder Anthony Cheky’s (Michigan State) soft line drive over the third baseman’s head in the first and Eric Cheray’s (Missouri State) triple to deep right-center field in the fifth were the Mallards only hits on a night that included a brief, five-minute rain delay in the fourth and another one at the beginning of the seventh that officially ended the game.
Mallards starter Greg Welsh (Penn State) was nearly flawless in his 5.1 innings of work in front of an announced crowd of 5,342. He scattered five hits, struck out six and allowed only one earned run. Mallards reliever Sam Forkert (Marian) came in with one out in the sixth with a runner on second, but forced a fly out and a groundout to end the threat. He needed only seven pitches to get through the seventh.
The Mallards got on the board in the second after shortstop Michael Handel (Minnesota) knocked in catcher Mike Fitzgerald (Indiana State) after grounding out to short. Fitzgerald was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
Fitzgerald then reached on an error in the fourth and came around to score after Cheky walked later in the inning. First baseman Jeff Zahn (Indiana State) scored on the next play after left fielder Luke Meeteer (UW-Milwaukee) knocked him in by grounding out to second.
Designated hitter Drew Weeks (North Florida) notched an RBI in the sixth by drawing a walk to score Zahn to end the Mallards scoring.
Right fielder Ryan Gerber (St. Thomas) provided the offensive fireworks for the Express by hitting a line drive home run over the left-center fence on a 1-0 pitch in the top of the fifth. Express centerfielder Charlie White (Maryland) reached on an error by Handel to lead off the sixth and came around to score after second baseman Mike Porcaro knocked him in with an RBI single.
The Mallards loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth off of Express reliever Peter Hendron, but only scored one. He struck out Meeteer and forced center fielder Tate Matheny (Missouri State) to pop out to left, but walked Mallards cleanup hitter Weeks. Hendron then forced third baseman Geonte Jackson (San Jacinto CC) to line out to left to end the threat.
Cheky led the Mallards offensively, going 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks. Handel, Meeteer and Weeks knocked in the other Mallards runs on the night.
Express starter Will Kenny (Iowa Central CC) was tagged with the loss after going five innings, allowing only two hits and walking six.
Neither the Mallards nor the Express had a hitter turn in a multiple-hit game.
The Mallards and the Express will wrap up their two-game series Thursday night at the “Duck Pond.” First pitch is slated for 7:05 pm.
The 2013 season is upon us! Single-game tickets are on-sale now!
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. In 2013, the Northwoods League will celebrate its 20th season.
