Alexandria, MN – June 23, 2014. The Madison Mallards (14-10) finish their two game road series tonight against the Alexandria Blue Anchors (6-20) in Alexandria, Minnesota at 6:35 pm. The Mallards fell to the Blue Anchors 6-5 last night and are now three games out of first place in the Northwoods League South Division.
Looking to help the Mallards bounce back tonight is starter Rob McDonnell (Illinois). The lefty out of Barrington, Illinois is 2-1 on the year in three starts, holding a 1.62 ERA with 17 strikeouts. In his last game on June 14th, McDonnell pitched five innings, giving up one earned run on nine hits in a 5-2 victory over the Wisconsin Woodchucks.
He will face Blue Anchors starter Zach Muckenhirn, a 6’1”, 185-pound lefty out of the University of North Dakota. Muckenhirn has appeared in six games with a 8.83 ERA, having given up 19 runs on 27 hits. His last game against the Rochester Honkers, Muckenhirn threw five innings, letting up four runs on five hits while striking out five in a 10-2 loss.
Yesterday, the Mallards gave up four runs in the bottom of the ninth, and Roman Collins (DMACC) singled to drive in the winning run from third off Mallards closer Tim Black (Central Michigan) to hand the Mallards their tenth loss of the year.
Mallards Starter Christian Taugner (Brown) tossed six shutout innings, striking out eight with no walks while giving up four hits. The Mallards scored all five of their runs in the second inning, but the Blue Anchors capitalized on two hits, three walks and a wild pitch in the ninth to walk off with the win.
The Mallards wrap up their two game series against the Blue Anchors today in Alexandria before returning to the “Duck Pond” tomorrow at 7:05 pm to face the Wisconsin Woodchucks (16-8).
Tuesday night is Boy Scout Night and will feature a Zimbrick Honda LEGO Giveaway. There will also be a UW Health Sports Medicine Developing Healthy Off-Speed Pitching Mechanics Clinic from 9 am – 12 pm.
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.
