The Madison Mallards returned home to the Duck Pond on Thursday night to begin a home-and-home set with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and failed to score in a 5-0 loss.

Mallards starter Kyle Jungers (Edgewood) pitched another quality start going five innings and giving up three earned runs. The Rafters scored all of those three runs in third inning when they had three consecutive RBI-singles with two outs, capped off by a single from E.J. Exposito (Long Island)

The Rafters got a gem of a start from Justin Beyer (Wagner). He pitched seven shutout innings giving up just four hits and picking up four strikeouts. Hayden Harris (Georgia Southern) and Zack Bennett (UCF) pitched scoreless eight and ninth innings respectfully with a combined five strikeouts.

Offensively the Mallards were led by Zach Storbakken (Madison College) who had two hits out of the two-hole. Cam Cratic (Missouri State), Alex Iadisernia (Elon) and Cam Frederick (Creighton) were the only Mallards to record a hit on the night.

In the 8th inning of tonight’s game Mallards catcher Drake Baldwin (Missouri State) exited with an injury while holding his ear. Jacob Campbell (Illinois) came in to replace him.

Next up for the Mallards is the conclusion of this two-game set with a 6:05 p.m. first pitch scheduled for tomorrow in Wisconsin Rapids. Following that the Mallards will come home for a weekend series with the Green Bay Booyah.