Madison, Wis. (July 19) – Jean Ramirez (Illinois State) collected his first four-hit game of the season, three different batters tabbed a double and Tyler Frohwirth (Minnesota State) pitched his sixth scoreless relief appearance of the second half as the Madison Mallards (12-8, 32-23) defeated the Battle Creek Bombers (6-13, 19-35) 5-3 in an eight-inning affair Sunday night at C.O. Brown Stadium. The win guaranteed a split with Battle Creek in Sunday’s double-header for the Mallards, who now enter the 2015 All-Star break in third place in the South Division’s second-half standings.
After dropping the opener of Sunday’s twin-bill with the Bombers by a 12-8 final score, the Mallards fought back from an early 1-0 deficit in the nightcap – a game that saw Madison go a combined 10-for-33 (.303) at the plate. The top of the fourth inning witnessed Bryce Carter (Stanford) knot the game at 1-1 through scoring on a wild pitch. Battle Creek was quick to respond, however, as Lin Li’s (National Taiwan Sports Academy) double to score Hank Truluck (Florida State) reestablished a 2-1 advantage for the Bombers heading into the top of the sixth inning.
Reaching base via an infield single with one out to begin the top of the sixth, Ramirez came around to score on a wild pitch shortly after to tie the back-and-forth affair at 2-2. The inning was far from over for the Mallards, however, as Charlie Cody’s (Virginia) walk with the bases loaded gave Madison a 3-2 lead, its first of the ballgame. Battle Creek answered with a run in the home half of the sixth courtesy of Steven Wells Jr.’s (Florida State) RBI groundout to score Dan Swain (Siena). Heading to the top of the seventh, the score stood at 3-3.
With neither squad managing a run in the seventh inning, the Mallards wasted little time at the plate in extra innings. Tony Butler (Madison College) led off the frame with a double, which was then followed by a walk from Cody. Cameron Frost (Washington State) provided a run-producing fielder’s choice to score Butler, giving the Mallards a 4-3 advantage. Ramirez’s fourth and final hit of the contest drove home Frost later in the inning, which ran Madison’s lead to 5-3. Frohwirth allowed two baserunners in relief, but induced a fly-out to secure the win in the bottom of the eighth.
With their series split in the books, the Mallards will turn their attention toward three consecutive off days as the Northwoods League focuses on the 2015 All-Star break in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. Following the short break, field manager Donnie Scott and the Mallards will return to the Duck Pond on Thursday, July 23 against the La Crosse Loggers. Thursday will feature XPOGO, presented by Charter Communications. UW-Health Sport Medicine will also provide a Developing Swing Fundamentals and Power Clinic on the field from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. for children ages 9-16 for $40.
For tickets or questions about the clinic, 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.
