The Madison Mallards (18-5) rode their powerful bats and their strong pitching staff for their fourth win in a row, 5-2, over the Wisconsin Woodchucks (6-17).
Starting pitcher Sean Leland (Illinois) fired the first six innings, allowing only one unearned run. Leland struck out seven, walked one, and escaped a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth inning.
TURNING POINT
The Woodchucks tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, setting the stage for the Mallards winning power outburst in the top of the eighth. After a single by Drew Campbell (Louisville), Jake Randa (NW Florida State) launched a towering two run homer over the twenty foot high centerfield wall and into the trees to make it 4-2. Randa leads the league with 26 runs batted in. Campbell plated an insurance run in the ninth with a triple to give the Mallards the final 5-2 margin.
TOP MALLARDS
- Trace Norkus (North Florida) pitched a three-up, three-down ninth for his league leading sixth save. Norkus has not allowed a run through eleven and two-thirds innings.
- Trevor Boone (Oklahoma State) gave the Mallards a 2-0 lead with a solo home run in the deepest part of the ballpark in centerfield.
- Drew Campbell had two doubles, a triple, a single, two runs scored, and a RBI in five at bats.
NEXT UP
The Mallards finish their two game series with the Woodchucks tomorrow night at 6:35 pm. On Saturday, they bus to Michigan for two critical games against the second place Kalamazoo Growlers, who have won eight in a row (17-6) and sit one game behind Madison.
