By: Ryan Hill — Public Relations
Madison, WI — August 2, 2013. The La Crosse Loggers (15-11, 36-25) used two four-run innings Friday night at the ‘Duck Pond’ to hand the Madison Mallards (16-12, 37-24) their fourth straight loss. The Loggers came out on top by a score of 11-9.
The Loggers took advantage of three Mallards errors in the second to score four runs and used a three-run home run from Michael Katz (William & Mary) and an RBI double from Bobby Juan (Minnesota) off of reliever Sam Forkert (Marian) to tack on four more in the sixth to grab an 11-6 lead.
Joe McCarthy (Virginia) and Drew Weeks (North Florida) recorded two straight singles in the seventh to lead off the inning and Jason Goldstein (Illinois) drove McCarthy in two batters later on a fielder’s choice off of Loggers reliever James Guillen (USC).
Weeks then pulled the Mallards within two the next inning with a two-out, two-run single down the right field line. Onas Farfan (Ridgewater College) then worked around a walk in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season for the Loggers.
The Mallards had a four-run inning of their own in the fourth on RBIs from Kyle Ruchim (Northwestern) and John LaPrise (Virginia) before McCarthy smacked a two-run triple to dead center. McCarthy also had an RBI groundout one inning prior and Drew Weeks (North Florida) singled in a run in the third, as well.
Mallards starter Reilly Hovis (North Carolina) allowed 11 hits and couldn’t make it out of the fifth, but only three of the seven runs he allowed were earned. He walked only one and struck out six and drops to 3-2 on the year. Forkert came on in the fifth with the bases loaded but induced a line drive double play to get out of the inning.
Loggers starter Zack Reser (Oregon State) was able to fight through six innings and allowed six runs (all earned) on nine hits. He struck out three while walking two and improves to 3-1.
Loggers second baseman Kevin Zak (Grand Valley State) and Mike Nadratowski (Grand Valley State) led La Crosse at the plate on the night. Zak went 4-for-5 with solo home run and had two runs scored while Nadratowski went 3-for-6 with a run and an RBI.
Weeks and McCarthy recorded seven of the Mallards 14 hits on the night. Weeks went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and McCarthy finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored.
The Mallards wrap up their longest home stand of the season tomorrow night against the Loggers at 6:05 pm before hitting the road for a six-game road trip.
Vita Ice will be presenting Women and Baseball Night for Saturday’s game! There will also be post-game fireworks presented by Charter Communications and the Fairway Mortgage Boot Campaign Community Connection Night will be held.
The Madison Mallards are your Northwoods League South Division First Half Champions! Playoff 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.
