Madison, WI. June 13, 2014 – The Madison Mallards (11-6) beat the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (4-14) tonight at the “Duck Pond” by a score of 4-2. Left fielder Alex Bacon (North Florida) and catcher Tyler Huntey (Central Michigan) both homered to help the Mallards reverse their two game slide going into the weekend. With their win tonight, the Mallards move into a tie for first in the South Division with the Lakeshore Chinooks (11-6).
Reliever Kirby Snead (Florida) received the win for the Mallards, tossing 2.1 innings and giving up one run on one hit while striking out two. Ben Neumann (Northern Illinois) closed down the Rafters in the 8th and 9th, striking out three to earn his first save of the year. John Kravetz (Illinois) was on the losing end for Wisconsin Rapids, pitching six innings and giving up two runs on five hits.
Huntey got things started for the Mallards with a solo shot in the 2nd inning, and Bacon followed suit in the fifth with a leadoff homer to go ahead 2-1. The Rafters would score one run in the seventh, but the Mallards answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning when Cody Stevens (Northwestern) scored on a Trent Higginbothem (North Florida) single.
The Mallards would add an insurance run in the eighth when Huntey crossed home plate after Bacon was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make the score 4-2. Bacon led the Mallards with two RBI on the night.
Tomorrow, the Mallards stay at the “Duck Pond” to begin a two game series against the Wisconsin Woodchucks (10-6). Great Dane will present Summertime St. Patty's with in-game entertainment by The Kissers. There will be Pepsi Post-Game Fireworks and a Zimbrick Honda Free Kids Clinic from 10 am – noon at the "Duck Pond."
Mallards single game tickets are on-sale now. To purchase tickets, log on to MallardsBaseball.com, call 608-246-4277, or stop by the Mallards ticket office.
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The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.mallardsbaseball.com.
