Madison, WI – June 19, 2014. The Madison Mallards (14-9) will look to move up the standings in the top heavy Northwoods League South Division tonight against the Battle Creek Bombers (10-13) at 7:05 pm. In the final game of their three game home stand at the "Duck Pond," Mallards newcomer Tyler Buffet (Oklahoma State) will face Bombers starter Zac Ryan (Georgia Tech).
Buffett will make his first start with the Mallards this year after Oklahoma State fell in the NCAA Super Regional last Saturday. In his freshman season with the Cowboys, Buffett held a 2.95 ERA in 14 appearances and ten starts, pitching in 55 innings, giving up 21 runs, 18 earned on 52 hits and 24 walks while striking out 36 and holding opposing batters to a respectable .249 average.
He will face Bombers righty Zac Ryan (Georgia Tech), a 6’1”, 198-pound freshman out of Valparaiso Indiana. Ryan has appeared in four games for the Bombers and holds a 2.72 ERA in 6.2 innings pitched, recording three saves, nine strikeouts, six walks, and two runs on one hit. In his last start against the Green Bay Bullfrogs, Ryan pitched three innings, giving up two runs on one hit and five walks while striking out three in a 6-5 loss.
Last night, the Mallards snuck out a close one against the Bombers, beating them 3-2. Second baseman Robbie Tenerowicz (California) was 2-for-3 with one RBI, and first baseman Joe Dudek (North Carolina) had a two RBI single in the sixth to help the Mallards to their 14th win. The Bombers brought it close in the 8th on a two run homer, but Tim Black (Central Michigan) closed down the side in the ninth to record his seventh save of the year. Black is now the leader in saves in the Northwoods League.
Tonights game at the “Duck Pond” will feature a West Bend Bobblehead Giveaway of Mallards skipper Donnie Scott. The Mallards begin interleague play tomorrow in Willmar, Minnesota against the Willmar Stingers at 7:05 pm. They play four games on the road, two in Willmar and two against the Alexandria Blue Anchors before returning to the “Duck Pond” on Tuesday, June 24th to face the Wisconsin Woodchucks.
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 the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit MallardsBaseball.com.
