By: Ryan Hill — Public Relations
Madison, WI — June 26, 2013. Madison Mallards (16-10) center fielder Tate Matheny (Missouri State) knocked home pinch runner Geonte Jackson (San Jacinto CC) with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth to give the Mallards a 2-1 victory over the Battle Creek Bombers (12-15).
After two walks and a single by pinch hitter John LaPrise (Virginia), Matheny pounded a ground ball on a full count to Bombers shortstop Daniel Cucjen (Alabama), but Cucjen’s throw home was late to give the Mallards their first walk-off victory of the season.
Jack Livingston (Northwestern) picked up the win by facing the minimum in the ninth. He worked around a leadoff walk and a wild pitch. Bombers right fielder Greg Velazquez (Cal St. Fullerton) ripped a line drive to first, but Jeff Zahn (Indiana State) jumped and snagged the line drive and doubled off the runner at second. Livingston then forced a popup to right to get out of the inning.
The Mallards nearly ended it in the eighth, but Bombers reliever Brian Heldman (Arkansas) got out of a jam. Shortstop Mike Reuvekamp (California) and left fielder Joe McCarthy (Virginia) singled in back-to-back at-bats with one out to put runners on first and third, but Heldman struck out Drew Weeks (North Florida) and forced Bre’ Kimbell (Louisiana Tech) to fly out to right.
Right fielder Luke Meeteer (UW-Milwaukee) provided the Mallards with their other run in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at one. He nailed a triple over the head of Bombers center fielder Cam Gibson (Michigan State) to knock in Jeff Zahn (Indiana State).
The Bombers scored their run in the top of the third off of Mallards starter Jamie Nunn (Appalachian State). Jordan Farris (Arkansas) came around to score while on third when Zahn dropped a pickoff attempt from Nunn.
Nunn struck out eight Bombers batters but lasted just five innings. He allowed one run (earned) on five hits and walked one batter.
The Mallards didn’t send more than four to the plate in an inning until the seventh inning. Bombers starter Alex Tukey (Minnesota) allowed just two hits in his four innings of work and the Mallards only managed a pair of hits off of reliever Ryan Lavoie (Eastern Michigan).
Sam Forkert (Marian) pitched the sixth, seventh and eighth innings for the Mallards and allowed only one hit while striking out three. His ERA drops to 0.51 on the season.
Zahn was the only Mallards hitter with multiple hits and finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. Matheny finished 1-for-5 with an RBI while Meeteer went 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks.
Bombers leadoff hitter Cam Gibson (Michigan State) and Kade Scivicque (SW Mississippi) both went 2-for-4 for the Bombers.
The Mallards also released Eric Cheray (Missouri State) and Kevin Duchene (Illinois) on Tuesday due to injuries.
The Mallards start a two-game home series against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. Thursday is the Group Health Cooperative LED Bracelet Giveaway! Tomorrow’s game also features Remington Night and the Access to Independence Community Connection 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 is celebrating its 20th season.
