Madison, Wis. (June 23) – Field manager Donnie Scott and the Madison Mallards (17-12) saw their seven-game winning streak come to a close at the hands of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters by a 3-1 mark (13-14) Tuesday night at the Duck Pond. Despite the loss, Madison retained possession of second place in the Northwoods League’s South Division.
Westin Wuethrich (Madison College) tabbed Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison ‘Big Win’ Player of the Night honors for the Mallards, tossing six innings in which he allowed just one earned run home on four hits, one walk and five strikeouts. Madison was limited to six base knocks in the losing effort, with none of their hitters tallying more than one.
After a fast-paced first inning, the Rafters grabbed their first lead of the night in the top of the second courtesy of a run-scoring single by Zack Domingues. The Mallards responded with a run in the home half of the fifth thanks to Logan Regnier’s (Central Michigan) sacrifice fly to plate Chris Tschida (Western Illinois), however, knotting the game at 1-1.
That score held steady until Wisconsin Rapids’ half of the eighth inning, one in which the Rafters scored on a wild pitch by Mallards reliever Nick Gruener (Harvard) to regain a 2-1 advantage. Rapids tacked on another in the top of the ninth via a passed ball by Madison catcher Collin Theroux (San Joaquin Delta College), increasing their lead to 3-1, which they would not relinquish. Grant Spranger (Southeastern CC) received the losing decision having allowed the go-ahead run to reach base in the top of the eighth inning.
With the loss behind them, the Mallards will turn their attention toward Wednesday’s series finale with Wisconsin Rapids. First pitch for game two is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from Witter Field. Follow the Mallards on Twitter @MadisonMallards for updates throughout tomorrow’s contest and catch all of the action on 100.5 FM ESPN Madison.
The Mallards will return to the Duck Pond on Friday, June 26 against the Kenosha Kingfish. Friday will be Oscar Mayer Hot Dog Appreciation Night at the ballpark, featuring a Mueller Maynard Bobblehead and Quench Gum Giveaway. It will also be Social Media Night at Warner Park. For tickets, call the Mallards ticket office at 608-246-4277 or visit www.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.
