Madison, WI – July 13, 2014. The Madison Mallards (7-5, 25-20) aim to sink the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (5-5, 17-28) this afternoon in the last game of their six game home-and-home series at the “Duck Pond.” First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 pm.
On the mound for the Mallards is starter Kirby Snead (Florida). The Alachua, Florida product is a perfect 3-0 on the year with a 2.02 ERA and the southpaw has struck out 28 in 26.2 innings of work. In his last outing, Snead went six innings, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out five in a 7-4 win over the Kalamazoo Growlers.
He is slated to square off against Rafters hurler Zach Jackson, a 6’3”, 195-pound righty out of the University of Arkansas. Jackson carries a 4.33 ERA with 30 strikeouts, 13 walks, and has given up nine earned runs on 12 hits. His last start, Jackson tossed six innings against the Eau Claire Express, giving up three runs on three hits while striking out seven in a 12-4 loss.
Last night, a seven run second inning lifted the Mallards over the Rafters in a rain-shortened game at the “Duck Pond.”
The Mallards recorded three singles, five walks and were aided by two Rafters errors in the second, and Rafters starter Antonio Gonzales (UC- Riverside) was charged for all seven runs that came home in the inning.
The Rafters responded with three of their own runs in the third and another three in the fifth in addition to scoring once in the first inning.
Mallards starter A.J. Bogucki (North Carolina) went four innings, earning seven runs on eight hits, walking three and striking out two.
Right fielder Connor Marabell (Jacksonville) came up big for the Mallards in the seventh, roping a two RBI double to put the Mallards up 9-7. Marabell finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and one run.
Mallards pitcher Andrew Buckley (California) held the Rafters scoreless in relief to get the win, giving up no hits while walking one in 1.2 innings of work.
The game was called in the bottom of the eighth inning after field conditions were deemed unplayable due to rain.
The Mallards sit three games back of first place in the second half South Division standings, and a half game back of the second place Kenosha Kingfish. Overall, the Mallards are in third, 8.5 games back of the Lakeshore Chinooks and a game back from the La Crosse Loggers.
The Mallards are off tomorrow and resume play against the Green Bay Bullfrogs in Green Bay on Tuesday at 7:05 pm. The club plays two at Joannes Stadium before returning on Thursday to begin a back-to-back doubleheader at the “Duck Pond” against the Willmar Stingers.
First pitch on Thursday is slated for 4:30 pm. Thursday features Whiplash the Dog Riding Cowboy Monkey presented by The Payroll Company. It is also Spectrum Brands Home & Garden Night with a Spectrum Brands Giveaway before the game.
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.
