By: Ryan Hill — Public Relations
Madison, WI — July 7, 2013. The Madison Mallards (2-2, 23-14) will close out a three-game home stand Sunday against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (1-2, 20-18). First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 pm.
Sunday’s game will be the second of a two-game set against the Rafters. The Mallards fell just short Saturday night, losing by a score of 6-5 and had two runners on in the ninth.
Joe McCarthy (Virginia) pulled the Mallards within one in the bottom of the ninth with an RBI single, but Rafters reliever JP Feyereisen (UW-Stephens Point) forced Drew Weeks (North Florida) to pop out to right with runners on first and second to end it.
Right fielder Donnie Dewees (North Florida) hit a two-run double down the right field line in the eighth with the score tied at four to propel the Rafters to the win.
Cam Verbeke (Illinois State) was tagged with the loss and dropped to 3-1 on the season.
Luke Staub (George Washington), the Northwoods League leader in ERA, will be on the mound tonight looking to continue his dominance as of late. The 6’2″ righty has gone at least seven innings in his last three starts and has given up only one earned run over that span. He allowed one run (earned) on just two hits over eight innings in his last start at Battle Creek on July 1st.
The Rafters will be countering with 6’4″ John Kravetz (Illinois). The Lansing, Illinois native has a record of 3-2 on the season so far with a 2.50 ERA. He was hurt by poor defense in his last start on July 2 at Green Bay, as the Bullfrogs scored seven runs off of him but only one was earned. He allowed seven hits through 5.2 innings and struck out six.
Sweet Stuff from Staub
One of the keys to Staub’s success and miniscule ERA is his ability to get batters out when in jams. The righty is allowing opposing hitters to hit at just a .114 (5-for-44) clip with runners on base and .053 (1-for-19) with runners in scoring position.
Up Next:
The Mallards hit the road for one away game against the Eau Claire Express Monday night at 6:35 pm before returning to the “Duck Pond” Tuesday for the second game in the series against the Express. First pitch for Tuesday is 7:05 pm.
Tuesday night is the Dane County Regional Airport Balsa Wood Airplane Giveaway. Fans will have the chance to win $5,000 in a postgame airplane toss. It will also be Social Media Night as well as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Communication Connection Night.
The Madison Mallards are your Northwoods League South Division First Half Champions! Playoff tickets will go on sale Monday July 8th at noon!
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.
