Mallards Pull Ahead to Win 7-5
Madison defeats Fond du Lac after a four-run seventh inning
Madison, Wis. – The Madison Mallards (14-10, 42-18) defeated the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (12-12, 33-26) 7-5 on Tuesday Night at Warner Park. The Mallards showed an effective approach at the dish all night, totaling 12 walks while eight of nine starters recorded hits. The Mallards pushed across four runs in a decisive seventh inning by drawing three bases loaded walks. Trevor Boone (Oklahoma State) added a key RBI single in the frame.
With the victory, the Mallards have won 12 of their last 14 games and hold a 5.0 game lead over the Kalamazoo Growlers in the overall standings this summer in Northwoods League play.
Turning Point
With the Mallards leading 2-1, the Dock Spiders put together a rally in the top of the fifth inning. Mallards starter Dustin Saenz(Texas A&M) had cruised through the first four frames allowing only three hits but walked the first two men to start the fifth. Turner French (St. Johns) entered and forced one Fond du Lac run across on a hit-by-pitch that tied the game at two. However, with the bases loaded and one out, the Mallards worked out of further damage with a key double play. First baseman David Vinsky (Northwood) snagged a hard line drive and stepped on first to complete an unassisted double play and end the inning with the score knotted at two.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Mallards used a patient approach to pull away. The game was tied at three when Jake Randa (Northwest Florida State), Tyler Plantier (Richmond) and David Vinsky drew consecutive walks to load the bases. Madison went on to tally runs when Justice Bigbie (Western Carolina), Garrett Kueber (Austin Peay)and Trevor Schwecke (UW-Milwaukee) all drew bases loaded free passes and Trevor Boone pulled an RBI single into right field. The seventh inning ended with the Mallards holding a commanding 7-3 lead.
Top Mallards
- Shortstop Garrett Kueber had a pair of singles and scored a run in the Mallards victory. The Mallards leadoff man also drew a walk.
- First baseman David Vinsky reached in four of his five at bats, totaling three walks and one single. Vinsky also made the key snag and unassisted double play in the fifth inning.
- Second baseman Trevor Schwecke reached three times with a pair of walks and one hit. Schwecke knocked in a pair of runs and also scored once.
- Reliever Carson Ragsdale earned the victory in relief, tossing 2.0 innings and allowing only one run while striking out three.
- Closer Trace Norkus earned his league-leading 14thsave, coming on in the ninth to hold on to the 7-5 win.
Next Up
The Mallards are set for a doubleheader tomorrow, starting in Rockford at 11:00 AM before coming back to the Duck Pond for a game at 7:05 PM. Tomorrow night’s game at Warner Park features the ZOOperstars! and Alliant Energy STEM Night with gates opening at 5:30 PM. For tickets and more information visit mallardsbaseball.com. Make sure to catch every Mallards game on The Zone, 1670 AM and 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. The 23-year-old summer collegiate 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via theNorthwoods League portal. For more information, visitwww.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.
