Madison, Wis. (June 25) – Field manager Donnie Scott and the Madison Mallards (18-13) were defeated by the Kenosha Kingfish (20-11) by a final score of 5-2 Thursday night at Simmons Field. The opener of Madison’s two-game set with Kenosha saw the Mallards collect as many hits (5) as the Kingfish, but ultimately prove not enough as Scott and company fell two games back of the Northwoods League’s South Division lead heading into Friday’s series finale at the Duck Pond.
The Kingfish wasted little time clicking at the dish Thursday night, plating a pair of runners in the top of the first inning to grab ahold of a 2-0 lead after one. After three scoreless frames from both sides passed, Kenosha tabbed two more runs courtesy of a hit, error and wild pitch by the Mallards on the bottom of the fifth inning, increasing the Kingfish advantage to 4-0. Alex Borglin’s run scored in the home half of the eighth moved Madison’s deficit to 5-0.
The Mallards attempted to manufacture a rally in the top of the ninth, an inning that saw Collin Theroux (San Joaquin Delta College), J.J. Gould (Jacksonville), Chris Tschida (Western Illinois) and Jean Ramirez (Illinois State) reach base, with Theroux and Ramirez each scoring to narrow Madison’s deficit to 5-2. But Kingfish reliever J.R. Holloway put the nail in the Mallards hopes of a comeback, striking out Logan Regnier (Central Michigan) to end the game in the ninth.
A.J. Bogucki (North Carolina) was tagged with three earned runs in 4.2 innings of work in his fourth start of the season Thursday night, allowing three baserunners to reach via walk while striking out five en route to the losing decision on the mound. Jesse Kay (California) worked 1.1 innings of scoreless relief with a strikeout, while Josh Pierce (Central Michigan) tabbed a shutout frame in the seventh. Tyler Frohwirth (Minnesota State) allowed one run in the ninth after being reactivated by the team earlier on Thursday.
With the loss behind them, the Mallards will turn their collective attention toward Friday’s pivotal series finale against the Kingfish, scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Duck Pond. 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.
