Madison, Wis. – The Madison Mallards (8-8, 36-16) take on the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (11-5, 32-19) as they go for their seventh straight win tonight at Warner Park. First pitch is set for 6:05 PM and gates will open at 4:30 while tonight’s game will feature Zimbrick Honda post-game fireworks.
The Mallards have tapped back into their first-half groove, winning six straight games coming into tonight. The Mallards pitching staff has allowed just five earned runs over the last five games and has struck out 40 while allowing only 22 hits. Meanwhile, the Mallards offense owns a .307 batting average over Madison’s last ten ballgames.
The Mallards have only played two games this summer against the Dock Spiders, posting a 1-1 record. The Mallards held Fond du Lac to just three earned runs between those ballgames and totaled 18 strikeouts while allowing only 11 hits.
Probable Pitchers
The Mallards plan to send San Jose State righty Justin Watland to the mound to take on the Dock Spiders. Watland has made seven starts this summer and currently holds a 2-1 record and a 4.11 ERA. Watland has 31 strikeouts this summer and has held opponents to a .244 average. Watland will be making his first start against the Dock Spiders tonight.
Meanwhile, Fond du Lac is set to start Jon Mierzwa. Mierzwa holds a 5.74 through seven starts this summer and owns a 0-4 record. Mierzwa has not faced the Mallards this summer and has lost his last three outings.
Players to Watch
Outfielder Jake Randa (NW Florida State) has found a groove at the plate lately, going 11-for-30 over his last nine games. Randa crushed a solo shot last night and has knocked in five runs over his last five ballgames.
Shortstop Garrett Kueber (Austin Peay) has been effective in the Mallards leadoff spot lately, posting a .394 average over his last ten games. Kueber has also drawn four walks over the last three games.
For tickets and more information visit mallardsbaseball.com. Make sure to catch every Mallards game game on The Zone, 1670 AM and 96.7 FM.
###
The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in 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.
