It was a tale of two halves Saturday night at the Duck Pond as the Mallards dropped game one of a two game set with LaCrosse by a score of 5-1. The Ducks will travel to LaCrosse for game two with the Loggers, tomorrow afternoon at 4:05 p.m.
Everything looked great for the Mallards in the early going. Starter Jake Sullivan (pictured below) worked a one, two, three first inning and the Ducks had a chance to strike first. Jordan Comadena opened the bottom half of the first by tripling into the right-center field gap. The next batter, Bobby Hubbard, drove him in with a sacrifice fly to left field and the Mallards had an early 1-0 advantage.
Sullivan then hit cruise control, taking a no hitter through 6 1/3 before Loggers second baseman Jesse Hart reached on an infield single. In that time Sullivan walked just one man, allowing no other base runners.
From there things would go sour for the Ducks. Hart reached second on a balk by Sullivan but an Adam Fleener strikeout would lead to the second out of the inning. Mallards Manger C.J. Thieleke then made a pitching change, bringing in Stephen Dodson to pitch to Ross McCoy. Thanks to a passed ball and a wild pitch Hart would score to tie the game at one a piece. McCoy would then fly out to end the inning, limiting the damage for the time being.
The Loggers would waste no time, however, picking up again in the top of the eighth. With one out, Adam Romero walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The next batter, Matt Aidem, doubled to bring Romero home and give the Loggers a lead they would not relinquish. Michael Brenly then singled and advanced to second on an error by Mallards right fielder Blaine Rutledge, which also allowed Aidem to score, making the score 3-1. The Loggers would add two more runs before the inning was over making the score 5-1 and that?s the way it would end.
It was a little disappointing on two fronts Saturday night. After the Mallards lost, the Rhythm & Booms fireworks show was called off due to inclement weather. Still, kids were able to enjoy a short kick ball game on the Mallards field after the game. The first 1,000 fans 14 and under received a kick ball courtesy of Meriter & PPIC. The Rhythm & Booms fireworks show will be made up tomorrow. The Duck Pond will be closed all day.
Catch every pitch of tomorrow afternoon?s game live on Madison?s Fox Sports Radio, 100.5 FM, or online at www.mallardsbaseball.com.
The Mallards return home Friday, July 7. They will take on the Eau Claire Express at 7:05 p.m. Great seats are still available. Order yours today by visiting www.mallardsbaseball.com, calling 246.4277 or stopping by the Duck Pond.
