The Mallards Pull Off a Huge Win in Kalamazoo, MI
A Strong Batting Performance Leads the Mallards to Victory
KALAMAZOO, MI. — The Madison Mallards went on the road to face the Kalamazoo Growlers, Thursday night, for their first game of the Michigan road trip. Here they pulled out their first win for the second half of the season bringing their record to 1-1.
It was a slow start to the game as neither the Mallards or Growlers put up any runs in the first or second innings. In the top of the 3rd inning, Michael Fuhrman (University of California, San Diego) got the bats rolling for the Mallards with a base hit. Nick Gonzalez (University of South Florida) then advances Fuhrman to third base on his double to right field. With runners on second and third base, Cam Frederick (Creighton University) had a base hit RBI to bring Fuhrman and Gonzalez home. These three base hits put the Mallards in the lead 2-0.
It did not take the Growlers long to respond. In the bottom of the third inning, Damon Lux (Duke University) had a base hit to left field to put him on base for the Growlers. Then Brett Barrera followed and hit the ball deep over the left field fence for a 2-run homer, evening out the score 2-2.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, Sam Vomhof (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) replaces Ryan Lauk (Wagner College) at the pitcher’s mound. Even with the pitching change, the Growlers responded. Jake Gelof (University of Virginia) started up the bats with a base hit to right field. Following, Devin Burkes (University of Kentucky) roped the ball deep over the left center field wall, putting the Growlers ahead 4-2 with only one out. The Growlers continued their rally when Luke Leto (Louisiana State University) had an infield “little league” home run, bringing Dominic Pitelli (University of Miami) home with him. This inning brought the Growlers ahead 6-2, but this rally was not enough for the Growlers to get it done.
The Mallards answered back with an amazing batting performance. Matt Scannell (Princeton University) started it off for the Mallards with a hit over the left field fence for his second home run of the season, bringing the score to 6-3 Growlers. Alex Iadisernia (Elon University) and Drake Baldwin (Missouri State University) followed with a pair of base hits putting runners on first and second base. With a pitching change from the Growlers, the Mallards had no hesitation and Bryant Shellenbarger (University of Akron) ripped the ball past Growlers second baseman for an RBI single sending Iadisernia home (6-4 Growlers). The Mallards were not done yet. With Baldwin and Shellenbarger on base, Cam Cratic (Missouri State University) grounded the ball past the Growlers first baseman for an RBI single sending Baldwin home (6-5 Growlers).
With the score 6-5 Growlers, the Mallards knew they needed some big runs. Going into the top of the 8th inning with the Mallards at bat, Frederick and Scannell were both walked by the Growlers Pitcher, Trey Nordmann (Lipscomb University). Iadisernia followed with a triple RBI to right field, sending Frederick and Scannell home (7-6 Mallards).
The Growlers were unable to get their bats rolling the rest of the game. Going into the bottom of the 9th inning, the Growlers looked to come back, but were unsuccessful due to Theo Denlinger’s sharp pitching. Theo made all three outs in the bottom of the 9th, a catch off of a line drive and two strikeouts, to finish the game.
The Madison Mallards fought hard until the end of Thursday night’s game against the Kalamazoo Growlers and finished the game with their first win in the second half of the season. The Mallards beat out Kalamazoo, leaving the final score as 7-6.
Next up, the Mallards face the Kalamazoo Growlers for the second night in a row in Michigan. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 pm in Kalamazoo.
