Rockford, IL- August 1, 2016. After dropping game one of the doubleheader to the Rockford Rivets (12-12, 29-31), the Madison Mallards (13-11, 36-24) earned a series split with a dominant 7-1 victory on Monday night.
The Madison Mallards turned the ball over to right-hander Westin Wuethrich (Washington) for game two of the doubleheader, needing a quality start from their starter to give them a chance. Wuethrich proceeded to have his best outing of the season, as he kept the Rivets offense guessing right from the start. After the Mallards failed to score in the first, Wuethrich kept the score close by striking out two Rivet batters in the home half of the frame.
It didn’t take long for the Mallards offense to get going as Josh Stowers (Louisville) singled with two outs in the top of the second inning and quickly stole second to put himself in scoring position. Cam Comer (Virignia) promptly followed the Stowers stolen base with a RBI single to right field as the Mallards drew first blood and took a 1-0 lead.
After the Rivets managed to tie the game at one in the bottom of the third, Josh Stowers again provided the offense for the Mallards in the top of the fourth. Stowers led the inning off with a single to left, and stole his second base of the night four pitches later. With Stowers on second, Nico Hoerner (Stanford) delivered a timely two-out single to score Stowers to put the Mallards in front 2-1.
The one run lead would be more than enough for Wuethrich, as the right-hander continued to cruise through a lineup that scored ten runs in the afternoon game of the doubleheader.
Wuethrich would be at his best in the bottom of the seventh, with the Mallards clinging to their 2-1 lead. After Rivets catcher Braden Williams (Texas Tech) doubled with one out, he advanced to third on a wild pitch. With the tying run ninety feet away, Wuethrich shut the door on the Rivets rally. He induced a fly-out to Cameron Frost (Washington St.) for the second out of the inning, and recorded his season high fifth strikeout of the game to strand the tying run on third.
Comer would again deliver offensively for the Mallards in the top of the 8th inning, as Josh Stowers came into score on a 2-out double from the Cavalier catcher to push the Mallards lead to 3-1.
After Luke Shilling (Illinois) worked a 1-2-3 bottom half of the 8th, the Mallards would blow the game wide open in the top of the ninth as they scored four runs. Zach Jarrett (UNC-Charlotte) brought in two of those four runs with a single to left field with the bases loaded.
Shilling followed the offensive explosion in the top of the ninth with a lights-out bottom of the inning, as he again retired the side in order highlighted by a game ending strikeout. Shilling worked two innings in relief out of the bullpen for the Mallards and struck out four Rivets.
The Mallards will be back in action tomorrow night as they travel to Kenosha to take on the Kingfish at Historic Simmons Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 as the Mallards begin a four game series with the Kingfish.
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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.
