Madison, Wis. – The Madison Mallards (5-6) handled the Wisconsin Woodchucks (4-7) on Friday night at Warner Park, winning 11-3. Madison won consecutive games for the first time this season, outscoring opponents 30-8 over the last two ballgames.
Tonight, the Mallards will look to cap the home stand with another win to complete a two-game sweep of the Woodchucks. Centerfielder Doran Turchin (Illinois) will be ready to jump-start the Mallards offense again after earning Northwoods League Player of the Night last night. Turchin hit two home runs and drove in four in the Mallards huge win. So far this season, Turchin leads the NWL with 19 RBI and sits at second in the league in home runs with five.
Mallards first baseman Kian O’Brien (Madison College) has been on fire recently as he has tallied a pair of hits in each of the Mallards last three games. O’Brien sports a .349 average and has batted .450 in 20 at bats with runners on base. Overall, the Mallards have been efficient at the plate with runners on as they have batted .346 in such situations this season.
Scheduled to start on the mound for the Mallards tonight is Heath Renz (UW-Whitewater). Renz has made two starts this season and owns a 1-0 record. He has tossed 7.0 innings and has allowed just two earned runs. Renz worked five innings in the Mallards opening night win and gave up zero earned runs.
Set to oppose Renz is Woodchucks starter Heath Hawkins. Hawkins has made one start for Wisconsin this season as he went 3.2 innings and gave up two earned runs in a 13-10 win over the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders.
First pitch is set for 6:35 PM tonight at the Duck Pond. The game will feature Star Wars Night presented by Dentistry for Madison: Dr. Jay Hazen. The Mallards will wear Yoda themed jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game to benefit DAIS. The game will be followed by post-game fireworks presented by Hy-Vee. To listen live, tune into The Zone 106.7 FM or 1670 AM.