Wisconsin Rapids, WI – June 14, 2016. Coming off of their first road loss of the season yesterday, the Mallards (9-6) took an early 6-0 lead, only to watch it slip away in the later innings as the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (8-6) defeated the Mallards by a final score of 9-6 on Tuesday night.
After a scoreless first inning, Sam Armstrong (Jacksonville) got things going offensively with his third home run of the season; a solo shot to right field. It marked the second straight day in which Armstrong has homered, extending his hitting streak to eight games.
With Mike Reitcheck (Penn) cruising on the mound, the Mallards exploded offensively in the top of the third inning. After Lucas Halstead (Pacific) made the score 2-0 with an RBI single, Nate Palace (Valparaiso) walked to load the bases as Zach Jarrett (UNC-Charlotte) came to the plate. Jarrett then launched the first grand slam of the season for the Mallards, as he ripped a pitch to right field to extend the Mallards lead to 6-0.
Reitcheck was brilliant through his first five innings on the mound, as he had allowed just three hits and struck out four Rafter hitters. The Rafters bats came alive in the sixth inning, as they chased Reitcheck and Mallards reliever Mitch Vogrin (Illinois State) from the game as they tied the score with a six-run inning.
The game remained tied into the eighth, thanks to some solid pitching out of the bullpen from right-hander Luke Shilling (Illinois).
After the Mallard stranded a runner in the top half of the frame, the Rafters used some timely hitting to score three more runs to take a 9-6 lead into the final inning at Witter Field.
Trailing three runs entering the final frame, the Mallards refused to quit, as they had the tying run at the plate on two separate occasions. They were unable to take advantage, as they lost at Witter Field for the first time this season and fell to 9-6 on the season.
The Mallards wrap up the season series versus Wisconsin Rapids tomorrow night at 7:05 pm at Witter Field. Following tomorrow’s game, the Mallards will return home for a three-game home stand. The Mallards play host to the Battle Creek Bombers on Thursday, June 16th on Zimbrick Honda Madison State Capitol Maynard bobblehead giveaway. There is also a UW Health Sports Medicine fastball pitching mechanics baseball clinic from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. $40 for ages 8-16. Tickets are available for purchase by visiting MallardsBaseball.com, calling the Mallards ticket office at 608-246-4277, or stopping in the ticket office at 2920 N Sherman Ave.
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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 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, 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, 150 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.MallardsBaseball.com
