Madison, Wis. – The Madison Mallards (7-6) were defeated by the Kenosha Kingfish (10-4) by a final score of 5-4 in thirteen innings Monday night at Simmons Field. Parker Sniatynski (St. Louis) scored the winning run in the bottom half of the game’s final frame, securing Kenosha’s second victory in as many games over the Mallards.
Matt Bower (Washington State) turned in another stellar outing on the mound for Madison in the series finale, logging six innings in which he struck out six batters, walked none and conceded just one earned run. The Mallards offense provided four runs to Kenosha’s one during Bower’s six innings of work, setting him up for his second winning decision and an early deficit for their South Division opponent.
But the Kingfish responded in the bottom half of the seventh frame, plating three runs against Jesse Kay (California-Berkeley), which tied the game at 4-4 heading into the eighth. Neither team was able to muster up a run across the next five innings, but with one out in the bottom half of the thirteenth, Sniatynski touched home for the game-winner on an errant play by Mallards catcher Jean Ramirez (Illinois State).
Jed Sprague (Pacific) did what he could to ignite Madison’s offense in the losing effort, doubling twice on his way to a 2-for-4 batting line. Logan Regnier (Central Michigan) chipped in with two hits of his own and a pair of runs batted in, while Anthony Gonsolin (St. Mary’s College) went 2-for-5, scored and pocketed his fourth stolen base of the summer. Overall, the Mallards went 11-for-48 (.229) at the dish Monday evening.
Though Madison’s bullpen was not at its best, Mike Kaelin (Buffalo) shined yet again in his sixth relief appearance of the season. The power-armed right-hander punched out eight of 15 batters faced across 3.1 scoreless innings of late bullpen work, including striking out the side with no outs and the bases juiced for Kenosha in the bottom half of the ninth. Kaelin has fanned 16 batters and allowed no runs in 16.1 innings this summer.
With their fifth straight loss behind them, the Mallards will turn their attention toward the opener of a two-game home series against the Green Bay Bullfrogs at Warner Park. First pitch for game one on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. For tickets, call the Mallards ticket office at 608-246-4277 or visit MallardsBaseball.com for more information.
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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 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.MallardsBaseball.com
