Madison, WI – August 16, 2013. The Madison Mallards are just one win away from clinching their second Summer Collegiate World Series, and first since 2004. They will have to win it on the road as the travel to Duluth, MN tonight to take on the Duluth Huskies. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm.
The Mallards overcame an early 4-1 deficit Thursday night in Game No. 1 of the Summer Collegiate World Series but used a six-run inning in the fifth and held off a late Huskies comeback attempt to win 10-7 and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
Huskies No. 9 hitter Christoph Bono (UCLA) hit a solo home run off of Mallards reliever Charlie Naso (Illinois) in the top of the eighth to pull the Huskies within two. Naso then threw seven-straight balls, but battled back from a 3-0 count against Conor Szczerba (Florida Southern). He struck him out on a full count and catcher Jason Goldstein (Illinois) caught Kyle Teaf (South Florida) stealing to complete the strike him out, throw him out play to end the inning.
The Mallards finally put something together against Huskies starter Parker Trewin (North Dakota St.) in the fifth after scoring one in the first and sending only 10 to the plate over the next three innings. After walking the Mallards No. 9 hitter Brock Stewart (Illinois State), Kyle Ruchim (Northwestern) doubled down the left field line and John LaPrise followed up with an RBI single. After two more RBI singles from Drew Weeks (North Florida) and Joe McCarthy (Virginia), Alex Bacon (North Florida) hit a three-run home run to left center to give the Mallards the lead for good, 7-4.
Starting tonight on the mound for the Mallards will be Andrew Arenson (Carthage). The 6’6″, 250-pound southpaw will be making his fifth start of the season, and sixth appearance. He is currently 2-0 with a 2.79 ERA and has 20 strikeouts in 19.1 innings pitched. In his last outing, he earned the win by going 5.1 innings, giving up one run on four hits in a 9-3 Mallards victory.
Countering Arenson for the Huskies is Luke Vandermaten (Iowa Central CC). The 6’1″, 155-pound righty is 2-3 with a 4.02 ERA and has started all eight games he has appeared in. He has compiled 30 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched. In his last appearance on August 9th, he went six innings, allowing just one run and five hits.
If the Mallards win tonight, they will secure their second Northwoods League Championship. If they fall, Game No. 3 will also take place in Duluth and that game will begin at 6:35 pm.
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.
