Mallards Fall Late, Swept by Lakeshore
Madison battled a foggy environment in final game against Chinooks
Mequon, WI – The Mallards played their final game against the Lakeshore Chinooks from Kapco Park on Sunday afternoon and Lakeshore was able to complete the season series with a two-game sweep by a final score of 8-4 to take the series on the year, 7-5.
Lakeshore got off to an early start on a foggy afternoon from Mequon in the 1st inning when Stephen Hrustich singled to center. An error allowed Matthew Deprey to score the game’s first run. Later in the inning Bryant Diel doubled home Hrustich for the early 2-0 advantage against Mallards’ starter Alex Hayes (5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K). It took Madison six innings to finally score a run on Sunday afternoon. Josh Caron drove in the Mallards first run with a sacrifice fly, cutting the Chinooks’ lead in half. Lakeshore responded quickly in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly of their own to retake the two-run lead.
Madison was able to tie the game in the top of the 7th inning with strong approaches at the plate against the Lakeshore bullpen. Davis Hamilton bounced out to score Scott Shaw and bring the game within one. The next batter for the Mallards was J.T. Mabry. The old saying, “put the ball in play and good things happen” was the case here for Mabry. An error on the Chinooks left fielder helped the Mallards tie the game at 3-3 as Tommy Carpenter (3-4, 2 R,) came in to score.
Lakeshore broke through after the 7th inning stretch against Madison’ reliever J.J. Baez. After walking the first two batters in the frame, Baez forced a weak pop out to put one away. Stephen Hrustich, who hit a home run in the series against Madison last week, put a fly ball deep into the fog that seemingly disappeared. The entirety of the Mallards defense thought the ball sliced into foul territory but was called a home run. The Chinooks baserunners slowly jogged around the basepaths almost as confused as everyone else from Kapco Park. Later in the five-run inning, Baez was taken out of the game by Donnie Scott. Both Scott and Baez had a few words for the umpiring crew as they departed the field of play. Madison scored one run in the top of the 9th on a Colin Hageman single but couldn’t score again.
The Mallards begin their final two-game series with just one location for both contests tomorrow against the Green Bay Rockers from Capital Credit Union Park. Game coverage can be found on the Northwoods League Baseball Network.
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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. Now in its’ 29th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, 300 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 (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. 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.
