Madison, Wis. – The Madison Mallards (12-12, 31-28) were edged by the Battle Creek Bombers (16-8, 36-23) on Sunday evening at Warner Park. The Bombers rode quality pitching to the 4-3 win and the two-game series between Madison and Battle Creek ended in a split.
Early on, the game was a classic pitcher’s duel as Mallards starter Simon Rosenblum-Larson (Harvard) and Bombers hurler Tim Nelson both baffled hitters. After three scoreless innings, the Bombers were able to get to Rosenblum-Larson when Justin Felix cranked a solo home run over the left field fence. Rosenblum-Larson ended up working 4.0 innings while allowing two runs and striking out four.
Meanwhile, Nelson was rolling until the Mallards bats awoke in the fifth inning. Cole Daily (Notre Dame) and Andrew Baker (Florida) had back-to-back singles and Zac Taylor (Illinois) ripped an RBI double to knock in one and put the Mallards on the board. However, Nelson avoided more damage and escaped with the Bombers 2-1 lead intact.
After the fifth, both bullpens deployed effective relievers. Madison pitchers Alex Marro (South Dakota State) and David Stover (Marrieta) combined to work four scoreless innings and allowed only two hits. Bombers righty Mark Quinby entered in the sixth and held off the Madison bats through the eighth inning.
The Bombers were able to add a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth, but the Mallards did not give up hope. Trailing 4-1 and down to their last out in the bottom of the ninth, the Mallards began a rally. Baker reached on a walk and Zac Taylor (Illinois) followed with a two-run bomb into the left field Budweiser Rooftop suite. The bomb made the score 4-3, but the Mallards couldn’t complete the comeback as Quinby used a clutch strikeout to end the ballgame.
Tomorrow, the Mallards head to Kenosha to take on the Kingfish at 7:05 PM at Simmons Field. The Mallards will return to Warner Park on Tuesday for game two of the series with Kenosha. Game time is set for 7:05 PM and features the Alliant Energy iMaynard bobblehead giveaway presented by WKOW TV for children 14 and under who complete a STEM activity. Visit mallardsbaseball.com for rules. Listen to all Mallards games live by tuning into The Zone 106.7 FM or 1670 AM. For more Mallards coverage, visit mallardsbaseball.com.
