By: Dylan Lee – Public Relations
La Crosse, WI – July 30, 2014. A grand slam by catcher Austin Barr (Stanford) in the fourth inning, preceded by a five run second, helped the Madison Mallards (13-15, 31-30) take game one of their doubleheader today against the La Crosse Loggers (8-18, 29-32) and snap their nine game losing streak.
The Mallards broke open the scoring in the second when left fielder Logan Regnier (Central Michigan) homered, and the Mallards offense followed with four more runs, three from first baseman’s Pete Alonso (Florida) blast later in the inning. They added two in the third, and Barr’s grand slam in the fourth brought the score to 11-0.
The Loggers responded with a run of their own in the eighth after the Mallards scored one in the top of the frame, and in the ninth Alonso hit his second home run of the game to bring the score to 13-1.
Mallards starter Devin Over (Connecticut) tossed five shutout innings in his first start, allowing two hits while striking out three. Reliever Chris Oakley (North Carolina) was solid in his 15th appearance, giving up one run on two hits while striking out four.
Loggers pitcher Kelvan Pilot (Mesa CC) earned the loss after pitching two innings, allowing five runs on seven hits.
The Mallards are scheduled to play game two at the “Duck Pond” later tonight against the Loggers at 7:05 pm.
On the mound for the Mallards in the nightcap is starter Rob McDonnell (Illinois). McDonnell is 5-3 on the year with a 5.33 ERA, and has struck out 36 in 43.1 innings of work. In his most recent victory, he tossed six shutout innings against the Willmar Stingers, allowing two hits while striking out five in a 5-0 win on July 17th.
He will face Loggers righty Andrew Frankenreider, a 6’1”, 170-pound freshman out of Northern Illinois. Frankenreider has yet to appear for the Loggers this year.
The Mallards stay in Madison tomorrow to begin a two game series against the Kenosha Kingfish at 7:05 pm. It is Summerween at the “Duck Pond”, and Forest of Freaks will present a Field of Screams Haunted Stadium with Post-Game Trick-or-Treating on the field. Kids 12 and under in costume get a free standing room only ticket. It is also Rayovac Night with a Rayovac Giveaway and Charter Communications sponsors Mallards team posters.
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.
