FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2025
Samantha Rubin
samantha@mallardsbaseball.com
608-665-1220
Division I Baseball Returns to Madison After 33 Year Absence
Illinois State University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to play October 11th at Warner Park
The Mallards are proud to host the first NCAA Division I baseball contest in Madison in over 33 years as Illinois State University scrimmages the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team on Saturday, October 11th at 12:05 p.m.
The last NCAA sanctioned D-I baseball game to occur in Madison took place on May 10th, 1991, followed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison disbanding its baseball program and leaving local fans without a Division I baseball program in the Madison area ever since.
Both schools have had players compete for the Mallards recently. Milwaukee’s Q Phillips, Tate Schmidt, Charlie Marion, Aiden Fishnick, Eamonn Mulhern, and Riley Peterson have all played in a Mallards uniform in the last two summers. Additionally, Illinois State’s Shuto Okumura has played two seasons with the Mallards alongside 2025 MLB draftee and ISU alumni, Shai Robinson. Milwaukee Head Coach Shaun Wegner also played for the Mallards in 2008.
Tickets will be $10 for fans to attend and the event will feature food, soda, and beer available for purchase. Tickets can be purchased now at this link or at mallardsbaseball.com. The scrimmage will be a 12-inning contest beginning at 12:05 p.m. with gates opening at 11:30 a.m.
Please contact the Mallards front office with any questions at either info@mallardsaseball.com or 608-246-4277.
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. Entering its’ 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 24 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 380 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 (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network. Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.mallardsbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Mallards as your favorite team.
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