Madison, Wis. – After splitting a doubleheader with the Rivets yesterday, the Madison Mallards travel north to Fond du Lac to face the Dock Spiders (8-14) at 6:35 this evening. The Mallards have won three of their last four games and can get to .500 with a win tonight.
After totaling three total hits yesterday, Madison right fielder Jeffery Mitchell Jr. (California) now owns a 12-game hitting streak. Mitchell Jr. has been a key component in the middle of the Madison lineup recently and now is batting .308. He’s knocked in 20 runs and hit seven doubles, a team-high. Third baseman Thomas Smart (Oakton) has been heating up lately and had an impressive game last night as he had three hits including a key two-RBI double in the top of the seventh. The double made the score 5-2, providing the insurance runs the Mallards needed. Smart has now hit in eight straight games and has raised his on-base percentage to .374.
Overall, the Mallards offense has been dangerous lately as over the past week Madison batters are hitting .290. Shortstop Cole Daily (Notre Dame) has been effective out of the leadoff spot as he’s batted .406 and gotten on base at a .513 clip through his last seven games.
Scheduled to start for the Mallards is righty Matt McCarty (Louisville). McCarty has made a pair of starts for the Mallards this season and owns a 1-1 record and a 3.17 ERA. He has tallied nine strikeouts and walked three through 11.1 innings of work. In his last outing, against the Bullfrogs on June 15th, McCarty worked five scoreless innings and allowed just four hits. Madison went on to blow out Green Bay, 16-0, with McCarty earning the win.
McCarty will look to continue the trend of effective Mallards pitching. The Madison pitching staff has performed well lately, posting a 2.65 ERA over the last seven games. Mallards pitchers have been able to control the strike zone as they’ve walked just 22 batters while striking out 48.
The Mallards return home Thursday night to face the Dock Spiders again. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 and gates are set to open at 5:30. The game will feature The Great Dane Leon Varjian bobblehead giveaway. Listen to all Mallards games live by tuning into The Zone 106.7 FM or 1670 AM. For more Mallards coverage, visit mallardsbaseball.com. In the morning tomorrow, the Mallards host the UW Health Sports Medicine developing healthy off-speed pitching mechanics baseball clinic from 9:00 AM- 12:00 PM. The clinic will be held at Warner Park and costs $40 for ages 8-16. Registration is still open.
