By: Ryan Hill — Public Relations
Mankato, Minnesota — August 8, 2013. Drew Weeks (North Florida) came up clutch for the Madison Mallards (19-15, 40-27) with the Mallards down 2-1 in the top of the eighth by hitting a three-run bomb to left-center to give the Mallards a 5-4 win Thursday night over the Mankato MoonDogs (20-12, 37-30).
After an Alex Bacon (North Florida) walk after Weeks’ blast, first baseman Jeff Zahn (Indiana State) tripled down the right field line to give the Mallards the three-run lead.
Charlie Naso (Illinois) then came in for the Mallards in the next half inning and allowed a single but struck out two batters. Kristian Calibuso (Eastern Michigan) walked three MoonDogs in the ninth before Tim Arakawa (Oklahoma State) knocked in two on a double but Danny Sullivan (Davenport) got Hibraim Cordova (U. of the Cumberlands) to strike out swinging to seal the deal for the Mallards.
For the second-consecutive night, a Mallards starter had a very impressive appearance after running into trouble in the first.
MoonDogs designated hitter Jonathan Rodriguez (Oklahoma City) had an RBI single up the middle past a lunging Kyle Ruchim (Northwestern) in the bottom of the first off of Cam Verbeke (Illinois State), but Verbeke would settle down and allow only four hits over the next five innings. After Rodriguez’s RBI base hit in the first, the righty retired 10-straight batters through the fourth inning.
Matt Wollenzin (Austin Peay) led off the fifth and stopped Verbeke’s stretch of 10-straight batters retired by doubling to the right field gap. After advancing to third on a groundout, Wollenzin scored on an infield single up the right field line from Alex Polston (Seminole St. College).
The Mallards scored their other run in the sixth and almost scored many more. Bacon was plunked with a pitch with the bases loaded to push across a run but designated hitter Jason Goldstein (Illinois) then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
Joe McCarthy (Virginia) led the Mallards and recorded three of the Mallards eight hits on the night. He went 3-for-4 and scored two runs. Weeks ended up going 1-for-5 with his three-run bomb and Zahn ended up going 1-for-4.
Arakawa led the MoonDogs at the plate and was the only hitter in their lineup with multiple hits. He went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
The Mallards return home on Saturday, August 10th against the Lakeshore Chinooks for a 6:05 pm game after playing a 7:05 pm game in Mankato on Friday to conclude the two-game series. There will be a Mallards Trading Card Giveaway presented by Charter Communications on Saturday and it will also be Back to School Night! The United Way Community Connection Night will also take place that night and Budweiser will provide post-game fireworks.
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.
