Madison, WI – July 12, 2014. After falling by one run yesterday, the Madison Mallards (6-5, 24-20) look to bounce back against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (5-4, 17-27) tonight at the “Duck Pond.” First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 pm.

Starter A.J. Bogucki (North Carolina) gets the nod for the Mallards after tossing five innings in his last start, allowing three runs on eight hits in a 4-1 loss to the Kalamazoo Growlers.

Bogucki is currently 2-1 on the year with a 3.69 ERA in 24.1 innings of work, and has struck out 21 opposing batters while giving up ten runs on 28 hits.

He is slated to face Rafters lefty Antonio Gonzales, a 6’2”, 205-pound junior out of University of California- Riverside. Gonzales is 1-2 on the year in eight appearances, and holds a 10.12 ERA in eight innings pitched. He will be making his first start tonight. In his last appearance, Gonzales pitched one inning, allowing one run on three hits while striking out three in a 14-5 win over the Kenosha Kingfish.

Last night, the Mallards were downed by the Rafters after the Rafters scored five runs in the first two innings off Mallards starter Sterling Sharp (Eastern Michigan). Sharp went 2.2 innings, giving up five runs on three hits in the loss.

The Mallards brought their deficit to one run after scoring one in the fourth and two on an Austin Barr (Stanford) two run homer in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score to 6-5. Barr was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.

After Barr’s home run, the Mallards were held to one hit in the last three innings of play.

First baseman Pete Alonso (Florida) hit his eighth home run of the year and led the Mallards with three hits.

Rafters starter Nick Blackburn (University of Illinois) tossed five innings, allowing five runs on five hits, walking six while striking out four in the win.

Reliever Derek Kawlewski (Rhode Island) ended the Mallards hopes of a comeback, retiring three of the four batters he faced in the ninth to earn his first save for the Rafters.

In the South Division second half standings, the Mallards currently sit three games back of the first place Lakeshore Chinooks and a half game back of second place. Overall, the Mallards are 8.5 games back of the Chinooks and two games back of the second place La Crosse Loggers.

The Mallards stay at the “Duck Pond” tomorrow to face the Rafters at 3:05 pm. Sunday is Marshfield Clinic and Susan G. Komen Pink Night with a Dancing Millie Bobblehead Giveaway. The Mallards will wear pink jerseys that are going to be auctioned off during the game.

Sunday is Princess Night and kids 12 and under in costume get a free standing room only ticket. It is also Madison Children's Museum Night and Petting Zoo Sundays.

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.