FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2022
Samantha Rubin
727-460-7520
Mallards Drop Both Games of First Road Trip
The Ducks flex their muscles with three homers, swept by Rafters
Madison, WI – The Mallards completed their two-game series with Wisconsin Rapids on Thursday night, losing 8-6. The Rafters won both games by a combined two runs to extend their win streak to three.
Much like last night, the Ducks got off to a strong start at the plate. In the 1st inning, Payton Smith hit the second Mallards home run of the season, scoring Javier Beal to give the road team an early 2-0 lead. The Rafters scratched one run back in the 1st off Mallards’ starter Ryan O’Hara (3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 K). After Wisconsin Rapids brought the game within one, O’Hara zoned in and sat down the next nine batters to finish his day on the mound. The Mallards extended their lead in the 2nd inning with a Jason Hodges three-run blast after a one-out single by Ben Rosengard and walk from Ryan Taylor. The only other run that the Ducks scored Thursday night was from another home run, this time from Josh Caron (3-5), who now has home runs in back-to-back days.
After O’Hara departed in the 4th is when trouble arose. The bullpen for the Mallards had a tough run with issuing free passes to Rafters’ batters. Seven walks across the three bullpen arms that Madison used plus two errors ended up being the difference in the ballgame. Gauge Lockhart (1.0 IP, 4 R, 2 ER) had his first four runners reach base as the first arm in relief. Only two of his runs were earned due to an easy groundball being thrown away as a two-run error, tying the game at five apiece.
When Markell Dixon got into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the 6th, Manager Donnie Scott turned to Steven Lacey (L, 1-1) with runners on first and second. Lacey earned the win in Tuesday night’s 4-3 win over Lakeshore. After walking the bases loaded, Lacey rolled back-to-back fielder’s choice groundouts to escape the inning with just a one run deficit. Josh Caron’s home run was placed as the leadoff man in the 7th. Lacey then retook the mound for the final two innings, striking out three of the next four batters before being squeezed on a walk to Rafters’ second baseman Chris Conniff. Following Conniff was leadoff hitter Ben Ross (3-4, 3 R, 2 SB). Ross unloaded on a home run to left to give the Rafters a dramatic 8-6 lead with two outs in the 8th. Alec Burnett (W, 1-0, 2.0 IP, 2 K) was able to sit down the Mallards in order to secure the first sweep of the season for Wisconsin Rapids.
The Mallards return to Warner Park to open a home-and-home with the 4-0 Fond du Lac Dock Spiders on Friday and Saturday. Mallards’ coverage can be found on the Northwoods League website under live action at 6:08 PM CST.
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The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 28th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 280 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.greenbayrockers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rockers as your favorite team.
