Madison, WI – July 17, 2014. Mallards starter Rob McDonnell (Illinois) tossed six no hit innings to help lead the Madison Mallards (11-6, 29-21) past the Willmar Stingers (10-7, 32-15) in game two of a doubleheader tonight at the “Duck Pond.”
McDonnell was on track for a no hit performance going into the last inning of play before allowing two hits to lead off the seventh. The southpaw was still superb in his two hit outing, walking two while striking out five to get his fifth win of the year.
Northwoods League All-Star and designated hitter Pete Alonso (Florida) hit a three run bomb, his second of the day and 11th of the season, as part of a four run fourth inning for the Mallards. He finished 3-for-3 with two runs and three RBI.
Alonso also scored a run in the third after he tripled to lead off the inning and was driven in on a groundout off the bat of right fielder Connor Marabell (Jacksonville).
Stingers hurler Brady Anderson (Florida Gulf Coast) tossed five innings, allowing five runs on five hits while walking three in the loss.
In game one of the doubleheader, the Mallards fell short by a run, scoring three runs in the top half of the seventh inning but losing to the Stingers by a score of 7-6 in a seven inning game.
Left fielder Alex Bacon (North Florida) scored on an error in the seventh and first baseman Pete Alonso (Florida) hit a two run home run, but Stingers starter A.J. Puckett (Pepperdine University) got Marabell to flyout for the last out of the game. Puckett went seven complete innings, giving up six runs on seven hits in the win.
Northwoods League All-Star and Mallards starter Sterling Sharp (Eastern Michigan) tossed four innings, giving up six runs on seven hits while striking out two in the loss.
The Mallards stay to the “Duck Pond” tomorrow to play a doubleheader against the Stingers at 4:30 pm. Friday is Karate Night with a Pepsi Kung Fu Maynard Bobblehead Giveaway. It is also Dashelito's Hot Sauce Appreciation 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.
