Madison, WI – A historic season came to an end for the Madison Mallards (50-20) on Wednesday night, as they were defeated 3-2 by the Kalamazoo Growlers (42-30) in the Great Lakes Championship at Warner Park. 

The Growlers got off to a quick start when Xavier Delgado (Barry University) hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning to give Kalamazoo a 2-0 lead. The score would remain the same throughout the first half of the game, as Growlers starting pitcher Ryan Kraft (Indiana) started his outing with five no-hit innings.

Pitching was strong on the Madison side throughout the middle of the game as well. Ckyler Tengler (Arkansas State – Mountain Home) tossed four shutout innings in relief with seven strikeouts, dominating on the mound to keep the Mallards in the game.

The no-hit bid ended in the sixth inning when Charlie Marion (Madison College) cranked a solo home run to cut the Growlers lead in half. After the Growlers tallied on another run in the top of the seventh inning, Marion answered in the bottom of the eighth inning with another solo home run to bring the lead back down to one run. 

Despite the two-homer game from Marion, the Mallards were unable to get anything else started on offense. The two long balls would wind up being the only two hits of the game for Madison, and they fell just short to the Growlers,  who will play for the Northwoods League Championship.

Kraft earned the win for Kalamazoo, finishing with seven innings pitched and one run allowed. Brandon Cahill (Walsh University) was charged with the loss for the Mallards. Aaron Roberston (Central Washington University) picked up the save for the Growlers. 

With the loss, the 2024 campaign comes to an end for the Mallards. Thank you to everyone who supported the team this season!