Madison, WI – The Madison Mallards (40-28) rallied from an early deficit and held off a late Green Bay Rockers (39-29) comeback attempt to earn a victory on Friday night at Warner Park.
Green Bay struck first in the third inning when Brayden Pleau (Grand Valley State) delivered an RBI double. Coleman Lewis (Georgia Tech) followed with a two-run home run to extend the Rockers’ lead to 3-0.
The Mallards answered in a big way in the fourth. With the bases loaded, Charlie Schau (Minnesota State University) ripped a three-run double to tie the game. Ashton Quiller (Arkansas State University) brought Schau home with a groundout moments later, giving Madison its first lead of the night. The Mallards added another run later in the inning to take a 5-3 advantage.
Green Bay trimmed the deficit to one in the sixth when James Knoll (Francis Marion University) drove in a run with an RBI single. Madison responded immediately, as Quiller led off the bottom half with a solo home run to make it 6-4. The Mallards continued to add on, with Brayden Zilis (Illinois State University) delivering a two-run double later in the inning to cap a four-run rally and extend the lead to 9-4.
The Rockers refused to go quietly. Landon Shaefer (Kansas State University) and Stefan Di Corrado (Dartmouth College) each drew bases-loaded walks in the seventh, cutting Madison’s lead to 9-6. Schau came through again in the eighth, lining an RBI single to bring home an insurance run and push the Mallards’ lead to 10-6.
Green Bay mounted one final threat in the ninth, scoring a run and loading the bases with the tying run on base and the potential go-ahead run at the plate. Mason Buss (University of Illinois-Chicago) entered from the bullpen and promptly ended the threat with a strikeout, securing the 10-7 Mallards victory.
Aidan Conners (Augustana College) earned the win in relief for Madison, while Connor Cavo (Tallahassee State Community College) was charged with the loss for Green Bay. Buss recorded his first save of the season.
The Mallards and Rockers will meet again Saturday night at Warner Park for the regular season finale. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
