By: Ryan Hill — Public Relations

Madison, WI — August 15, 2013. The Madison Mallards will play in the Summer Collegiate World Series for the first time since 2008 on Thursday night at the “Duck Pond” and will play the Duluth Huskies. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm.

Game No. 2 will take place in Duluth, Minnesota and is set to begin at 6:35 pm Friday. Game No. 3 (if necessary) will also be in Duluth and will be on Saturday.

The Duluth Huskies swept the Waterloo Bucks, who went 51-19 in the regular season, in the North Division Championship and are currently on a nine-game winning streak. They will travel to Madison after having Wednesday off.

The Mallards season, meanwhile, appeared to be done after a 15-0 blowout loss against the Lakeshore Chinooks on Monday and also appeared that way while down 7-4 in Game No. 2 on Tuesday. But Kyle Ruchim (Northwestern) came up clutch and hit a three-run home run in the seventh and a two-run shot in the eighth to help the Mallards eventually win by a score of 14-8. 

But Wednesday night at Kapco Park proved to be even more thrilling. The Chinooks scored one in the bottom of the eighth to give them a 3-2 lead just one half inning after Joe McCarthy (Virginia) tied things up at two with a two-run single. But then Alex Bacon (North Florida)—who entered in the fifth after center fielder Tony Cheky (Michigan State) hurt his shoulder diving for a ball—came to the plate with two runners on. He took an 0-2 offering deep to left, just over the outstretched arm of Chinooks left fielder Make Papi (Virginia) to give the Mallards a 5-3 victory.

Taylore Cherry (North Carolina) will get the start in Game No. 1 tonight for the Mallards and will make his first appearance of the postseason. The 6’8,” 270-pound freshman went 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA during the regular season through 29.2 innings of work. He took the loss in his last appearance against Mankato on August 9th and allowed five runs (two earned) on five hits over three innings of work. He had a stretch of four starts in July where he went at least five innings and allowed three earned runs or less.

Parker Trewin (North Dakota St.) will get the nod for the Huskies tonight. The southpaw went 3-2 with an ERA of just 2.61 over six appearances (all starts) during the regular season and struck out 19 over 31 innings of work. He is 2-0 over his last three appearances and allowed two earned runs or less in each of those starts. He didn’t receive a decision on August 10th against Rochester but went six innings and allowed no earned runs on five hits.

History Repeating Itself?

The Madison Mallards won their only Northwoods League Championship in 2004 against the Duluth Huskies. The Mallards swept the Huskies 2-0 and won 4-3 on a walkoff in Game No. 2 in front of 5,310 fans at the “Duck Pond.” They also swept the La Crosse Loggers in the divisional series and finished the season with a record of 46-22 that included the playoffs.

Dominating Duluth

The Mallards lineup will have its hands full if Duluth pitches the way they did in the North Division Championship series against Waterloo. The Huskies allowed just eight hits—and only one went for extra bases—and two earned runs in the two games of the divisional round. They held opposing batters to just a .131 batting average and struck out 16. The Huskies won Game No. 1 by a score of 5-2 and snuck out a 2-1 victory on Tuesday to clinch a spot in the Summer Collegiate World Series.

Up Next:

Game No. 2 will take place in Duluth, Minnesota and is set to begin at 6:35 pm tomorrow. Game No. 3 (if necessary) will also be in Duluth and will be on Saturday.

The Madison Mallards are your Northwoods League South Division Champions! The Mallards will host the Duluth Huskies Thursday at 7:05 pm for Game 1 of the NWL Summer Collegiate World Series.  Tickets are available for Thursdays game by calling 608-246-4277 or stopping by the Mallards ticket office at 2920 N Sherman Ave. Madison, WI 53704.

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.