The Mallards walk-off for the first time since 2021 to take down Lakeshore

Madison, WI – The Mallards lost an early lead late in the game but were able to do what they couldn’t on Thursday night and finish the job with a 5-4 walk-off win.

Madison jumped out to an early four-run lead against Lakeshore’s starter Mitch Alba. An Owen Jackson double put the North-Siders on the board in the 2nd, scoring Korbyn Dickerson from second base. The offense tallied three more runs in the bottom of the 3rd with the help of two Lakeshore errors. With two outs in the frame, both errors helped five consecutive Mallards reach base in the lengthy half-inning.

The ace of the rotation throughout the first 12 games, Derek Salata, got the ball on Saturday afternoon and chucked five scoreless innings in his third start. Madison left the bases loaded two times and stranded two runners on base three different times offensively. The combination of Salata and Chad McCann were excellent in keeping the Chinooks off the board through seven.

Trouble brewed in the top of the 8th inning against Mallards’ reliever Trent Simmons. After striking out Jared Everson, Simmons allowed four straight to reach. The right-hander from North Carolina A&T forced a ground out from Cody Kelly resulting in the second out of the inning. Manager Donnie Scott opted for the closer of the day, Connor Langrell to get the last out of the 8th. Andy Nelson ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Josh Overbeek and tying the game, 4-4.

Although there was trouble on the basepaths against Langrell in the top of the 9th, a 1-6-3 double play helped the Madison defense escape the top-half. Owen Jackson led off in the opportunity for Madison, the same opportunity that the team squandered on Thursday. Jackson earned a walk and he was followed by Jake Goolsby, who was hit by the first pitch from Connor Krauseneck. The next batter, Keenan Taylor walked up with three trips to the basepaths already under his belt. In his fifth at-bat of the day, Taylor smoked a single into center field and the pinch-runner, Mike Gupton, slid into home and the celebration ensued.

Following the much needed rebound for Madison, the Mallards and Chinooks wrap up the home-and-home series tomorrow in Mequon at Kapco Park with a 1:05 P.M. first pitch.