Mallards Comeback Stopped Just Short
Green Bay splits series to open the second half of play
Madison, WI – The Mallards fell to the Green Bay Rockers on Thursday night by a final score of 11-9 at Warner Park as the Rockers were able to salvage a game in the first series of the second half. Tonight’s game marked the longest contest of the season for the Mallards as the final out was recorded exactly four hours after the first pitch of the game.
Green Bay was on the board first against Tommy Ellisen in his first collegiate start. After recording the first two outs of the inning, Griffin Stevens and Owen Jackson (3-5, 4 RBI, HBP) both doubled to score the game’s first run. Madison’s offense was sparked in the 2nd inning with a four-run frame that used two free passes and three singles to take a 4-1 lead. The Rockers immediately countered in the top of the 3rd inning against Ellisen (2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) with four runs of their own. The first four batters reached, including the first two of the Mallards’ four errors on the night. Green Bay then extended their one-run lead to four with a three-run top of the 5th inning against a combination of Kyle Walter and Adrian Montilva out of the bullpen. The three runs that eventually scored reached base on two walks and a throwing-error on Montilva on a comebacker.
Madison then began to slowly creep their way back into the ballgame beginning in the 5th. The Mallards would score in four consecutive innings to bring themselves back. The Ducks were given a handful of runs in the bottom of the 6th against Rockers’ relievers Jacob Conover and Austin Vandenbrink, in his first appearance of the year. Nick Gonzalez doubled, Christian Rivera was hit by a pitch, and J.J. Rollon (4-5, RBI, BB) to begin the inning. A balk and a wild pitch from Vandenbrink brought the Mallards within one before stranding two baserunners. Both teams scored runs in the 7th inning to keep the game at a one-run spread. The Mallards had a prime opportunity in the bottom of the 8th following the away half where Sam Vomhof struck out the final two batters to keep runners at second and third. Rollon and Macus Brodil led off the home half with singles, putting runners on the corners. Green Bay turned to relief pitcher Rashad Ruff (W, 1-1) and struck out J.J. Wetherholt for out number one. Josh Caron was able to leg out an infield single to load the basepaths. Following Ruff’s second punchout of the inning, Liam Moreno walked to tie the game on a full count, bringing Gonzalez to the plate. The Mallards shortstop hit a high bouncer to short that was flipped to second to end the inning on a controversial call. Mallards’ skipper Donnie Scott kept Vomhof in the game in the top of the 9th. After a leadoff walk, Vomhof recorded the next two outs by way of a bunt pop-out and a fielder’s choice. However, a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch put two runners in scoring position for Owen Jackson. Jackson drilled a two-run, two-out double over the head of Brodil in right field to give the Rockers an 11-9 edge in the final inning. Ruff shut the door in the bottom of the 9th, only facing three batters.
The Mallards begin their longest road trip of the season tomorrow from Athletic Park in Wausau for a two-game series with the Woodchucks. Coverage can be found on the Northwoods League website under the ‘Live Action’ tab at 6:20 PM.
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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.
