Madison, WI – July 17, 2014. The Madison Mallards (10-6, 28-21) fell short this afternoon in game one of their doubleheader, scoring three runs in the top half of the seventh inning but eventually losing to the Willmar Stingers (10-6, 32-14) by a score of 7-6 in a seven inning game.
Alex Bacon(North Florida) scored on an error in the seventh and Pete Alonso (Florida) went deep, but Stingers starter A.J. Puckett (Pepperdine University) got Mallards right fielder Connor Marabell (Jacksonville) to flyout for the last out of the game. Puckett went seven complete innings, giving up six runs on seven hits in the win.
The Mallards runs came in the first inning when catcher Drew Carlile (Bradley) singled to drive in first Alonso after Alonso reached on an error. Second baseman Robbie Tenerowicz (California) then hit a two run bomb in the fifth running, his sixth of the year, to bring the Mallards deficit to 6-3.
The Stingers scattered their seven runs but were aided by a two run first and a three run second inning. Leading the Stingers was left fielder Jack Ross (Pepperdine), who went 3-for-3 with one home run and two RBI.
Northwoods League All-Star and Mallards starter Sterling Sharp (Eastern Michigan) tossed four innings, giving up six runs on seven hits while striking out two in the loss.
On the mound for game two of the twinbill is Mallards southpaw Rob McDonnell (Illinois). McDonnell holds a respectable 3.31 ERA in 35.1 innings of work and is tied for the team lead in strikeouts with 31. He carries a 4-2 record in his eight appearances, and in his last start McDonnell tossed six complete innings, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out five in a 3-1 loss to the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.
He is slated to square off against Stingers hurler Brady Anderson (Florida Gulf Coast). Anderson, a 6’0”, 180-pound righty is 3-2 on the year in five starts and holds a 1.89 ERA. His last appearance, he tossed one scoreless inning, earning a save against the Waterloo Bucks in a 5-3 victory.
The Mallards stay to the “Duck Pond” tomorrow to play a doubleheader against the Stingers at 4:30 pm. Friday is Karate Night with a Pepsi Kung Fu Maynard Bobblehead Giveaway. It is also Dashelito's Hot Sauce Appreciation Night.
Mallards single game tickets are on-sale now. To purchase tickets, log on to MallardsBaseball.com, call 608-246-4277, or stop by the Mallards ticket office.
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The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit MallardsBaseball.com.
