By: Dylan Lee – Public Relations
Wausau, WI – July 29, 2014. Mallards designated hitter Austin Barr (Stanford) drove home a run in the seventh inning, followed later in the inning by second baseman Michael Handel’s (Minnesota) two RBI single, but the Madison Mallards (12-15, 30-30) fell to the Wisconsin Woodchucks (17-9, 35-25) tonight in Wausau by a score of 5-4.
The Woodchucks led off the scoring with two in the first and followed with one in the third.
The Mallards answered in the fourth when Tony Butler (Virginia) singled to make it 3-1, driving in Trent Higginbothem (North Florida) after he had led off with a single to start the inning. Higginbothem finished 2-for-4 with one run.
The Woodchucks responded with one run in the bottom of the fourth and another in the fifth inning. Leading the Woodchucks and scoring in the fifth was third baseman Paul Dejong (Illinois State), who went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.
In the seventh, the Mallards led off with three singles, loading the bases with no outs. Barr then singled to score left fielder Alex Bacon (North Florida), and two batters later Handel recorded a two RBI single to bring the score to 5-4.
Woodchucks reliever Austin Tribby (Missouri) shut down the Mallards in the ninth, walking one while striking out two to earn his second save of the year.
Mallards starter Alex Pondick (Montevallo) tossed four innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out two in the loss.
The Mallards travel to La Crosse tomorrow to play the La Crosse Loggers in a home-and-home doubleheader. The first game will be played in La Crosse at 12:05 pm, and game two is scheduled for 7:05 pm at the “Duck Pond.”
Wednesday night is Pickett's Paving Madison's Ugliest Driveway Giveaway. Fans can register online to enter the contest. It is also Joey's Song Epilepsy Awareness Night, and the Mallards will wear purple jerseys that are auctioned off during 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.
