Fond du Lac, Wis. — On a day when runs were scarce, designated hitter Andrew Baker (Florida) drove the Madison Mallards (38-16, 10-8) to a 3-1 victory over the Dock Spiders (32-21, 11-7). Baker had a perfect day at the plate, blasting two doubles, a single, drawing a walk, and driving home two runs.
Another Florida Gator, Connor Churchill, pitched four and one-third effective innings to start the game for the Mallards, allowing only one run and one hit. Relievers Turner French (St. Johns), Jonah Smith (Creighton), and Nick Morales (San Jose State), kept the Dock Spiders off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
Turning Point
With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the sixth and two outs, Baker roped a line drive to right field to score Tyler Plantier (Richmond) with the go-ahead run. Fond du Lac was on the verge of tying the game in the bottom of the sixth when Jake Randa (NW Florida State) gunned out a Dock Spider by ten feet at home plate, trying to score from second base on a two out single. Baker drove home the Mallards insurance run with two outs in the top of the eighth inning on his second double of the game, this one over the head of the Dock Spiders right fielder to make the final score 3-1.
Top Mallards
- Nick Morales stranded inherited two base runners in the bottom of the seventh inning and pitched the final two and one-third innings to earn his fourth save
- Drew Campbell (Louisville) added two hits and an RBI to the Mallards 11-hit attack
- Tyler Plantier (Richmond) scored the winning run and contributed two hits
- Connor Churchill struck out four in his first start of the summer season, and did not allow a base hit until two were out in the bottom of the fourth inning
Next Up
Madison pitchers have not allowed more than three runs in any game during their current eight game winning streak. Eight Mallards All-Stars and their coaching staff led by Donnie Scott will travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan for the Northwoods League Home Rome Derby and All-Star Game Tuesday July 24. The Mallards team will resume regular season action Thursday night July 26 in Madison, at 7:05 pm against the Rockford Rivets. Bring your dog to Warner Park Thursday night for Animart Bark in the Park with Madison Veterinary Specialists. Playoff tickets for the Mallards first round home game Monday August 13 are on sale at Warner Park or at madisonmallards.com. Listen to all Mallards game action on the Zone, 1670 AM, 96.7 FM.
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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.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Mallards as your favorite team.
