Madison, Wis. (July 14) – Despite stringing together 11 hits over nine innings of play Tuesday night, field manager Donnie Scott and the Madison Mallards (8-6, 28-21) came out on the short end of an 8-5 score against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (7-5, 22-22). The Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison ‘Big Win’ Player of the Night was shortstop Tony Butler (Madison College), who stimulated the Mallards lineup in going 2-for-4 with a team-high two runs batted in at the dish against the Rafters.
After a fast-paced first inning, the Mallards claimed the contest’s first lead courtesy of Logan Browning’s (Florida) grounded-into-double-play in the top of the second, leading to Scott Tyler (Ball State) scoring. Butler then proceeded to knock in Jason Goldstein (Illinois) to give the Mallards a 2-0 advantage on the Rafters, though his clutch hit with a runner in scoring position was followed by a two-run frame for Rapids, which knotted the game at 2-2 after two innings.
Building on their two-run inning, the Rafters followed suit by scoring two more in the home half of the third via run-producing at-bats by Brock Carpenter and Mitchell McGeein. Wisconsin Rapids proceeded to score a run in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, respectively, against Mallards pitching, lifting its advantage to 8-4 after seven. Logan Regnier (Central Michigan) attempted to ignite a comeback effort in the top of the ninth through a double to score Browning. Cameron Frost’s (Washington State) groundout ceased any hope of a comeback from the Mallards, however.
With the loss behind them, the Mallards will regroup in preparation for Wednesday’s series finale with the Rafters. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from Witter Field. For notes and updates throughout tomorrow’s contest, follow the Mallards on Twitter @MadisonMallards or tune in to 100.5 FM ESPN Madison’s comprehensive play-by-play coverage.
The Mallards will return to the Duck Pond on Thursday, July 16 against the Lakeshore Chinooks (7-11, 24-26). Thursday evening will be Waterpark Night with a Kalahari Resort Indoor Theme Park Pass Giveaway to the first 500 fans through the gates. There will also be a UW-Health Sports Medicine Developing Healthy Off-Speed Pitching Mechanics Clinic at Warner Park prior to the game from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. for children 12-16 years old for $40. For tickets to Thursday’s game, 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.
