Madison, WI – June 16. 2012. More heroics from Mallards right fielder Tyler Marincov (North Florida),
this time in the form of a walk-off fielders choice, delivered the Madison Mallards (8-10) a 5-4 win over the Lakeshore Chinooks (9-9) in extra innings. The win gave the Mallards a victory in the series opener and puts them in a position to sweep the two game series.
The Mallards were able to get to Chinooks starter Tyler Thicke (Madison College) in the first inning when first baseman Jeff Zimmerman (Northern Illinois) poked a ground ball through the right side of the infield and scored Marincov.
Zimmerman continued to drive the Mallards offense in the fifth inning, blooping a ball over Chinooks shortstop Scott Wilcox (Western Kentucky) to score center fielder John Welborn (Texas-San Antonio) and Marincov, increasing the Mallards advantage to 3-0.
The Chinooks rallied in the seventh inning, starting with a leadoff triple by first baseman Ryan Krill (Michigan State) followed by an RBI single by right fielder Zack Granite (Seton Hall) to score Krill. The Chinooks would add one more when a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Matt Morse (Alabama-Birmingham) allowed Granite to score from second, making the score 3-2.
The runs didn’t stop there, as the Chinooks would take the lead in the eighth inning on a couple of RBI hits by designated hitter Eric Aguilera (Illinois State) and Krill to take a 4-3 lead. The Chinooks had a chance to add on even further when pinch runner Charlie Markson (Notre Dame) stole his way from first to third with one out. Reliever Danny Sullivan (Madison College) was able to strike out the next two he faced to escape the inning.
In the bottom half of the inning the Mallards would tie the score at four when a wild pitch from Chinooks reliever Josh Uhen (UW-Milwaukee) allowed pinch runner Michael McGraw (Missouri) to score from third.
The Mallards were walk-off winners in the 10th inning on a failed attempt by the Chinooks at a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning. With the bases loaded Marincov grounded a ball to Morse who then turned and threw to the shortstop Wilcox who attempted to throw out Marincov but was late, allowing the Mallards to win.
Mallards starter Anthony Marzi (Connecticut) had his best outing of the season, allowing two earned
runs and five hits while striking out four in 6.1 innings.
Closer John Hamilton (UNC-Charlotte) got his first win of the season, sticking out a tough 2.0 innings of relief where he struck out four and did not allow a hit.
Uhen (1-3) picked up his third loss of the season after he put runners on second and third in the 10th inning. Through 4.0 innings of relief he struck out five, but allowed the tying run in the eighth and was charged the winning run in the 10th.
The Mallards will wrap up their longest home stand of the season against the Chinooks on Sunday June 17th at 3:05 pm. That day will be Stoddard’s Country Grove Market Father’s Day Celebration, the first 500 dads will receive grill gloves courtesy of Stoddard’s.
The 2012 season is upon us! Single-game tickets are on-sale for all Mallards home games.
The Madison Mallards are part of the 16-team Northwoods League. The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other Summer Collegiate League in North America.
