Madison, Wis. (June 24) – After stomaching their first loss in a week Tuesday night at the Duck Pond, field manager Donnie Scott and the Madison Mallards (18-12) bludgeoned their way to a 3-0 victory Wednesday night at Witter Field en route to a two-game series split with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (13-15).
Madison out-hit Rapids by a convincing 13-3 mark in the win, one that included Jason Goldstein’s (Illinois) first home run of the season and three extra-base hits as a unit.
Unable to convert baserunners into runs over the first five innings Tuesday’s contest, the Mallards leaned heavily on starting pitcher Dalton D’Spain (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) to hold Rafters hitters at bay, which he more than accomplished by turning in his best outing of the summer. Across six strong innings of work, the 6-foot-2 right-hander held Rapids to no runs on six hits, two walks and nine strikeouts. The effort lowered D’Spain’s ERA to 2.73 this season.
Prior to D’Spain’s exit after the bottom of the sixth inning, the Mallards captured their first lead of the night thanks to Goldstein’s two-run blast that enabled Jean Ramirez (Illinois State) to touch home. Madison then manufactured another run in the top half of the seventh courtesy of Cameron Frost’s (Washington State) RBI single that scored Tony Butler (Madison College), who reached base via a double to centerfield. The lead put Madison’s bullpen in ideal position.
After working a scoreless bottom of the seventh, Vince Arobio (Pacific) returned to the mound to post another shutout frame against the Rafters. It was the seventh consecutive appearance (8.2 IP) in which Arobio ceded no runs to an opponent. Mike Kaelin (Buffalo) then extended his scoreless innings streak to 15.2 to begin the 2015 season, fanning one batter and allowing no baserunners en route to his fourth save to clinch Madison’s victory in the series finale.
Now one game back of first place in the Northwoods League’s South Division, the Mallards on Thursday will travel to Kenosha for the first tilt of a pivotal two-game series with the division-leading Kingfish. First pitch for tomorrow’s series-opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Comprehensive play-by-play coverage will be provided by 100.5 FM ESPN Madison. Follow the Mallards on Twitter at @MadisonMallards for notes and updates throughout Thursday’s contest.
The Mallards will return to the Duck Pond on Friday, June 26 against the Kenosha Kingfish (19-10). Friday night will be Oscar Mayer Hot Dog Appreciation Night and Social Media Night at the stadium, featuring a Maynard Bobblehead and Quench Gum Giveaway at the front gates while supplies last. 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.
