Kalamazoo, MI – July 7, 2014. The Madison Mallards (4-2, 22-17) will aim to take one off the Kalamazoo Growlers (1-4, 14-26) in their two game road series tonight at 6:05 pm in Kalamazoo, Michigan after falling last night at Homer Stryker Field, 4-1.
Mallards starter Kirby Snead (Florida) gets the nod tonight and has been rock solid for the club this summer, carrying a 2.17 ERA in three starts and seven appearances, recording 23 strikeouts while walking just two opposing batters.
In his last start, Snead tossed six innings against the Growlers on June 2nd, giving up one run on two hits while striking out five in a 8-1 win.
He will square off against Growlers pitcher Ryan Colegate, a 6’5”, 180-pound sophomore out of Ohio Dominican. Colegate is 1-2 on the year with a 5.19 ERA in 26 innings pitched, and in his last start he lasted 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits in a 5-4 loss to the Battle Creek Bombers.
Last night, the Mallards were stifled by Growlers starting pitcher Ryan Smoyer (Notre Dame), who received Northwoods League Pitcher of the Night after giving up one run on just two hits, walking none while striking out five in eight complete innings of work.
The Mallards scored their only run in the fourth inning when shortstop Trace Tam Sing (Washington State) was hit by a pitch and came around to score later in the inning on a fielder's choice.
The Growlers were led offensively by left fielder Nick Yarnall (Pittsburgh), who was 2-for-3 with two runs, a triple, and one RBI.
Mallards starter A.J. Bogucki (North Carolina) went five innings, giving up three runs on eight hits while striking out one in his first loss of the year.
The Mallards travel to Wisconsin Rapids tomorrow to continue their five game road trip against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (0-3, 12-23) at 7:05 pm. They play three against the Rafters at Witter Field before returning to the “Duck Pond” on July 11th to face the Rafters at 7:05 pm.
Friday the 11th will feature a MIG Commercial Real Estate LEGO Building Giveaway. It is also Circus World Night with live circus entertainment and Remington Beard Night.
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.
