Mallards snags lead early, fend off hungry Woodchucks team

Madison, WI – Madison split their series with Wausau on Friday night at Warner Park with a 4-2 win.

For a second straight night Madison jumped out to an early lead behind Cal Fisher’s seventh home run of the summer off of Woodchucks’ starter Peyton Schofield to give the home club a 2-0 edge. The Mallards would add another run in the home 3rd on a Canyon Brownsingle.

Will Simmons was sharp in his seventh start of the summer and so was the defense behind him. The defense turned three double-plays behind Simmons to help him through five innings during his third win of the campaign. The right-hander from North Carolina – Chapel Hill only surrendered one run through his outing.

Wausau cut into Madison’s lead by getting to the Mallards bullpen in the 7th. A Mark Shallenberger sacrifice fly trimmed the lead to one after a handful of walks. On back-to-back nights, Madison’s pen struggled with the walk-bug. A night after the Mallards walked 14 total, they handed out 10 more free-passes to Woodchucks’ hitters.

Madison would add a run of insurance in the bottom half of the inning on Jackson Tucker’s sac-fly.

After entering in the top of the 7th, Madison trusted Jack Bennett to close out the game through the backend and picked up his second save in the past week, stranding two in the 9th.

Madison travels to Fond du Lac tomorrow for their final trip to Herr-Baker Field this summer. The home-and-home series begins at 6:35 P.M. CST.