Following a 6-2 win on Friday night, the Madison Mallards went for the series sweep on Saturday in front of a packed Duck Pond and came up just short, losing to the Woodchucks 6-5.

The Woodchucks went up 5-0 in the game on a two-run single from Jordan Schaffer (Indiana State) in the second, a solo home run from Jacob Burke (Miami) in the third and a two-run double from Tyler Kehoe (Liberty) in the sixth.

The Mallards then mounted a comeback as JT Benson (Louisville) hit an RBI-single in the sixth. The seventh was then the big inning for the Ducks.

Bryant Shellenbarger (Akron) hit a two-run single to bring the deficit to two and then the next batter Drake Baldwin (Missouri State) hit a two-run home run to left to tie the game.

Baldwin was Northwoods League Player of the Night on Friday as he went 4-for-4, and he stayed hot tonight as he went 3-for-3 with the home run and two walks.

In the ninth the Woodchucks took the lead 6-5 on an RBI-double from Schaffer, his third RBI on the night.

The Mallards then got the first two runners on at second and third in the ninth, forcing the Woodchucks to make a pitching change. They failed to score as Tom Kane (Rowan) came in to slam the door and get the save for the Woodchucks.

With the loss the Mallards winning streak ends at three and the Woodchucks losing streak ends at three. These two teams have now split all four series they’ve played against each other as the season series stands at 4-4.

The Duck Pond held it’s biggest crowd of the season, with 5,506 strong coming out on a Saturday evening. Tickets are still available for the following two days on this fourth of July weekend home stand. 

Next up for the Mallards is another home series as they’ll welcome in the Kenosha Kingfish for the first time this season. First pitch tomorrow is at 5:05 p.m. followed by a day game at 1:05 p.m. on Monday.