Madison’s offense struggles again, loses all four in homestand at Warner Park

Madison, WI – Madison wrapped up their four-game homestand at Warner Park on Monday night against a determined Green Bay Rockers team, entering a half-game out of first place in the West. The Rockers swept the Mallards in the two-game division series with a 3-1 win.

For a second straight night, Madison would jump on top of Green Bay with a 1-0 lead on Davis Hamilton’s second home run of the year off of Kyle Stoddard. After the blast, the Mallards’ offense went silent. They threatened two more times, once in the 6th and once in the 7th, but weren’t able to plate any runs against the Rockers’ bullpen.

Will Simmons turned in his best outing of the summer for Madison in his second start and ninth appearance. In 5.2 innings, Simmons allowed just three hits and two earned runs while striking out four. Manager Donnie Scott went to the bullpen after Simmons surrendered a home run to Kendal Ewell to tie things in the top of the 6th. Bryce Leedle was the option for Madison while inheriting one base runner. Two batters and two doubles later, Simmons was on the hook for a losing decision.

Two more Madison arms, Cole Heath and Chad McCann shut down the Rockers the rest of the way but couldn’t get any offensive support. The Mallards combined for just 21 hits through the four-game homestand in which they lost all four games to wrap up the first-half.

Green Bay played themselves into a chance to win the first half title with a win over Madison on Monday night. They need a Wisconsin Rapids loss, a game that began halfway through Mallards-Rockers, to punch their ticket to the postseason.

Madison will begin the second half tomorrow at Witter Field in Wisconsin Rapids against the Rafters on the 4th of July for a 1:05 P.M. CST start.