By: Ryan Hill — Public Relations
Green Bay, WI — June 2, 2013. The Madison Mallards (2-2) recorded four errors and dropped their first road game of the season Sunday afternoon against the Green Bay Bullfrogs (3-1) in 10 innings by a score of 6-5.
Bullfrogs first baseman Tripp Martin (Samford) led off the bottom of the tenth inning with a walk from Mallards reliever Nick Hibbing (Iowa). After Martin stole second, Bullfrogs designated hitter Jose Godinez (St. Norbert) hit a grounder to Mallards shortstop Mike Reuvekamp (California), who moved there from second after Michael Handel (Minnesota) left the game after fouling a pitch off his knee. Martin ran for third as the grounder approached Reuvekamp, prompting Reuvekamp to throw to third to try for the tag out. His throw sailed past third baseman Sam Koenig (UW-Milwaukee) and Martin came around to score to end the game.
The Mallards led 4-3 going into the bottom of the eighth inning until Martin jumped all over a full-count offering from Mallards reliever Ben Neumann (Northern Illinois) and crushed it well over the left field fence.
The Mallards responded in the top of the ninth after Bullfrogs third baseman JD Crowe (Auburn) committed an error while Reuvekamp was on second.
That lead was short lived, as the Bullfrogs responded once again the bottom of the ninth when left fielder Robert Youngdahl (Notre Dame) knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice against Mallards reliever Justin Peters (Texas).
The Mallards went down quietly with a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 10th.
Mallards starter Sam Forkert (Marian University) went four innings while allowing three runs on three hits. He struck out four and walked two but was hampered by his first inning performance.
The Bullfrogs scored three runs—two earned—but wouldn’t score again until Martin’s home run in the eighth.
The Mallards also got off to a hot start offensively and knocked Bullfrogs starter Justin Mortensen (UW-Whitewater) out of the game after just 1.1 innings of work by scoring one in the first and two in the second. Designated hitter Tony Cheky (Michigan State) hammered the first pitch of the game to deep right for a triple and Handel knocked him in with an RBI double in the next at-bat.
The Mallards other run came in the fourth, when Cheky had an RBI groundout that scored right fielder Luke Meeteer (UW-Milwaukee).
Cam Verbeke (Illinois State) also made an appearance for the Mallards. He pitched the fifth and sixth innings and only allowed one hit but walked two.
Cheky, Handel, first baseman Ryan Bull (Notre Dame) and Reuvekamp all had two hits for the Mallards. Each recorded an RBI besides Bull.
The Bullfrogs were anchored offensively by catcher Mitchell Ghelfi (UW-Milwaukee), who was the lone Bullfrog with two hits on the day. Godinez finished 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs and drew three walks.
The loss drops Hibbing to 0-2 on the year and improves the Bullfrogs’ Michael Fain (Nevada-Reno) to 1-0.
The Mallards end their two-game road trip Monday with a 6:35 pm game in Green Bay. They return home Tuesday for a 7:05 pm game against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. Tuesday night is Maynard’s Birthday Party at the “Duck Pond!” Fans are encouraged to bring a toy for Maynard to donate to charity. That night also marks Spectrum Brands Night.
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.
