Madison, Wis. – The Madison Mallards were clicking on all cylinders in their 10-2 opening night victory over the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters on Tuesday evening at Warner Park. The Mallards deployed an offensive barrage all evening as they tallied 13 hits and scored ten runs. Meanwhile, Mallards starter Dalton Morrow (Southwest Baptist) dominated with an extremely efficient outing, holding the Rafters without a hit for 5.2 innings and lasting a total of 7.0 innings. The lefty earned the winning decision, allowing only two hits and one unearned run.
Turning Point
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the first, centerfielder Jayse McLean (NDSU) delivered a bases-clearing three-run double that glanced off the glove of Rapids centerfielder Steven Rivas. The knock highlighted a Madison four-run frame and gave the Mallards the advantage out of the gates.
Top Mallards
- McLean later crushed a two-run bomb over the left field fence, giving him five RBI on the night. McLean finished 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
- While Madison’s offense was converting, Morrow worked quick inning after quick inning. The southpaw only needed 77 pitches to last 7.0 innings while allowing only two hits and zero free passes.
- Mallards right fielder David Vinsky (Northwood) was seeing the ball well all evening as he recorded a pair of singles and also drew a walk. The versatile slugger also knocked in and scored a run.
- Mallards catcher Hunter Hisky (Southwest Baptist) contributed in both phases of the game as he had three hits and orchestrated Morrow’s effective outing. Hisky served as Morrow’s catcher all spring at Southwest Baptist and their connection proved to be important in tonight’s ballgame.
Quotes
Dalton Morrow on the nerves before his opening night outing… “In the first inning, it was the biggest crowd I’ve ever pitched in front of. It kind of got to me a little bit. I just wasn’t quite as timed up as normal. By the second inning everything was kind of figured out.”
On working with Hisky… “I was fortunate enough to come up with my catcher, Hisky. We’ve always clicked really well. We get along off of the field and that kind of has a big part of it when we get out there. We get into a rhythm.”
Up Next
Tomorrow night, the Mallards take on the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters at Warner Park. The game features a Chet’s Car Care schedule pen giveaway. Gates open at 4:30 PM and first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM. For more Mallards coverage and to purchase tickets, visit mallardsbaseball.com.
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The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.mallardsbaseball.comor download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Mallards as your favorite team.
