Wisconsin Rapids, WI – July 10, 2014. The Madison Mallards (6-3, 24-18) aim to end their five game road trip with a win against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (3-4, 15-27) tonight at Witter Park. First pitch is slated for 7:05 pm.
The Mallards are 2-2 on the trip so far, having split a two game series against the Kalamazoo Growlers earlier this week and are locked up at 1-1 against the Rafters.
On the mound tonight for the Mallards is lefty Rob McDonnell (Illinois). McDonnell has been solid for the Mallards this summer with a 4-1 record, holding a 3.06 ERA in 29.1 innings of work. In his last outing, he tossed five innings of one run ball, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out four in a 7-1 victory against the Battle Creek Bombers.
He is scheduled to face Rafters starter Jake Cage, a 6’2”, 200-pound righty out of Azusa Pacific University. Cage has appeared in one game for the Rafters this season, going two innings and giving up two runs on three hits in a 7-6 win over the Thunder Bay Border Cats.
Last night, the Mallards took down the Rafters by a score of 8-4 to even their six game home and home series at one apiece.
Left fielder Alex Bacon (North Florida) hit a two run homer in the second inning and tripled in the ninth to finish 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.
The Rafters scattered their four runs, scoring one in the second, sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
The Mallards scored three in the fourth inning, aided by designated hitter Pete Alonso’s (Florida) RBI single, his 27th of the year, to bring the score to 5-2. Alonso finished 2-for-4 with two singles.
The Mallards added one run in the eighth on right fielder Connor Marabell’s (Jacksonville) RBI double and two in the ninth to go up 8-4.
Closer Tim Black (Central Michigan) shut down the Rafters in the eighth and ninth innings, giving up one run on two hits while striking out four.
Mallards starter Christian Taugner (Brown) went five innings, striking out eight while allowing one run on four hits.
The Mallards return to the “Duck Pond” tomorrow to begin a three game home series against 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.
