Madison, WI – June 30, 2016. Mitch Vogrin (Illinois State) set the tone early in tonight’s game, leading the charge from the pitching staff as the Mallards (20-11) topped the Lakeshore Chinooks (11-20) by a score of 1-0. Vogrin was one of four Mallards pitchers used in the game, paving the way to the Mallards first shutout of 2016. Tonight’s start was Vogrin’s first of the season after nine appearances out of the bullpen.
“As a starter, you’re trying to get ahead more and pitch for contact,” said Vogrin. “It’s a mentality.”
After three scoreless innings, Josh Stowers (Louisville) was able to find a chink in Lakeshore starter Marshall Kasowski’s (Houston) armor, sending a 1-0 pitch deep to left-center to make the game 1-0. The long ball was Stowers’ first of the season and ended up making the difference in the contest. He was sitting fastball and got the pitch he wanted.
“I was feeling really good before the game today and said I was going to hit one out,” said Stowers. “I was able to deliver on that.”
The hit was only one of five that Kasowski allowed in his seven innings of work, throwing 104 pitches and racking up 11 strikeouts. The Mallards pitching staff was able to spoil the right-hander’s stellar outing.
Mike Byrne (Florida) made his first appearance of 2016 after Vogrin’s four shutout frames, pitching two perfect innings and striking out two Chinook batsmen. Chase Hoag (Fresno State) would take over in the 7th and turn in a 1-2-3 inning of his own. Donnie Scott would then hand the ball to Troy Bacon (Santa Fe College) asking for a two-inning save from his saves leader. Trouble would brew in the 8th for the right-hander, as he faced runners on the corners with only one away.
“At that point you’re just trying to let the defense work and not do too much,” Bacon reflected on the situation. “If you get a strikeout, then great.”
Strikeouts are exactly what he would get, sending Matt Reardon (Florida Gulf Coast) and Kurtis Brown (Richmond) back to the bench, stranding the runners. The 9th inning would be a little easier, as Bacon struck out two to earn his fourth save of 2016.
Mike Byrne picked up the win, his first of the season. Despite his spectacular outing, Marshall Kasowski took the loss, moving to 1-1 on the year.
The win was Madison’s 20th of the season, though they still trail the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters by one game in the standings. The first half of the regular season ends on July 5th.
The Mallards will return to the Duck Pond on Saturday, July 2nd to take on the St. Cloud Rox at 5:05 pm. The game will feature postgame fireworks, presented by Pepsi. There will also be a performance by Brothers & Sisters featuring the Brothers of Locksley with Friends. 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, 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 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 portal. For more information, visit www.mallardsbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Mallards as your favorite team.
