The Madison Mallards (5-7) fell to the Wisconsin Woodchucks (5-7), 5-4 in the series finale on Saturday night at Warner Park. In front of the largest crowd of the 2017 season, the Mallards battled back to tie the game in the late innings, but the Woodchucks rallied to take the lead in the ninth.
It was a slow start for the Mallards bats as the Woodchucks would get on the board first with a run in the top of the third. But the Mallards responded in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI groundout by first baseman Kian O’Brien (Madison College). O’Brien knocked in Doran Turchin (Illinois) who reached on a walk and moved to third on a Woodchucks error.
Mallards starter Heath Renz (UW-Whitewater) tossed a quality outing, going 4.2 innings and allowing just one earned run. However, the Woodchucks were able to scrap across two unearned runs and the Mallards trailed 3-1 after six.
After two games that saw the Mallards dominate offensively, the Mallards had to battle to keep the pressure on the Woodchucks pitchers. Madison batters weren’t able to get their hits to fall and after seven innings the Woodchucks held a 4-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Mallards quality, grind-it-out at bats finally started to pay off. Jalen Harrison (Virginia) led-off with a single into left and moved to third after a wild pitch and a balk. Cole Daily (Notre Dame) knocked him in with an RBI single to cut the Woodchuck lead to 4-2. After a Cade Bunnell (Madison College) groundout, Turchin delivered an RBI double to drive in Daily and shave the Woodchuck lead to one.
Jeffery Mitchell Jr. (California) then stepped to the plate with Turchin still at second, he ripped a double of his own down the left field line to drive in Turchin and knot the game at four.
Despite the Mallards valiant comeback, the Woodchucks ripped the lead back in the top of the ninth on an Ivan Nunez RBI double. Nunez’s game-winning hit gave the Woodchucks a 5-4 lead, which would be held by closer Orsen Josephona.
After the four-game home stand, the Mallards now hit the road for a pair of games in both Wisconsin Rapids and Rockford. Tomorrow, they will take on the Rafters in Wisconsin Rapids at 1:05 PM. The Mallards return home on Thursday, June 15th to face the Green Bay Bullfrogs. To listen live to all Mallards games, tune into The Zone 106.7 FM or 1670 AM. For more Mallards coverage, visit mallardsbaseaball.com.
