The Madison Mallards (45-20, 17-12) stopped the six game winning streak of the Kenosha Kingfish (34-31, 21-10) in the bottom of the eleventh inning in a game which took over four hours to complete.  The Mallards have now pulled within three games of the Kingfish for the second half lead in the South Division with only seven games left to play.

The game was messy early on, with seven errors and thirteen walks given up by the two teams combined.  However, the relief pitching took over from the sixth inning on, and both teams were held scoreless heading into the bottom of the eleventh inning.

Turning Point

Jake Randa (NW Florida State) led off the bottom of the eleventh with a solid single to right field, and advanced to third base on a solid double down the left field line by David Vinsky (Northwood), who extended his hitting streak to 15 consecutive games.  With one out, Justice Bigbie (Western Carolina) lined a fly ball deep into right centerfield.  Randa beat the throw to the plate easily, and the Mallards dugout charged the field and doused Bigbie with ice water after his walk-off sacrifice fly.

Top Mallards

• Jake Randa had a home run, three hits, three RBIs, scored the game winning run, and reached base five times in six plate appearances
• Trace Norkus (North Florida) pitched two innings of shutout relief in the tenth and eleventh inning to earn the win
• Leon Hunter (North Carolina A&T) earned player of the game honors by throwing three scoreless innings, yielding only one hit and striking out three
• Cole O’Connor (Dartmouth) started well for the Mallards, pitching four innings, giving up only two hits and one earned run
• Cam Cratic (Madison JC) contributed two hits, an RBI, a walk, and a run scored in his fourth game as a Mallard

Next Up

The Mallards travel to Kenosha on Sunday for their last game against the Kingfish in the regular season, with the first pitch scheduled at 4:05 pm.  Madison will host the Kalamazoo Growlers for two home games Monday, August 6 and Wednesday, August 8.  Both games start at 7:05 pm.  All kids 12 and under will eat free at Warner Park Monday night, receiving a hot dog, chips, and a soda with a regular admission ticket. The Mallards are also hosting a Catch a Grand contest, in which the first fan to catch a foul ball or home run in a baseball glove in the stands will win $1,000.  As first half champions, Madison is guaranteed home field for Game 1 of the play-offs, Monday August 13, at 7:05 pm.  Get your play-off seats on madisonmallards.com to Pack the Pond.  Listen to all Mallards game action on the Zone, 1670 AM, 96.7 FM.