The Madison Mallards (41-18, 13-10) exploded for 14 runs and 14 hits in Fond du Lac Monday night to win their second game in a row.\u00a0 The loss dropped the Dock Spiders (33-25, 12-11) to seven and one-half games behind the Mallards for best overall record in the South Division. With just 13 games left in the regular season, Madison still holds a four game lead over Kalamazoo for the best record overall.<\/p>\n
The Mallards put the game away when they sent 13 men to the plate and scored eight times in the top of the seventh inning.<\/p>\n
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Turning Point<\/p>\n
Connor Churchill (Florida) was locked in a pitching duel with a 2-0 lead as the game went into the bottom of the fourth inning.\u00a0 The Dock Spiders narrowed the gap to 2-1 with a single, and after an infield error, Fond du Lac had the bases loaded with just one out.\u00a0 Churchill worked out of the jam with a routine fly out and a called strikeout to strand three baserunners. That would be Fond du Lac\u2019s last good chance to get back into the game.<\/p>\n
The Mallards offense scored 12 runs over the next three innings to turn the game into a rout.\u00a0 Four combined scoreless relief innings by Tanner Rogen (Oral Roberts) and Brian Martinez (Connors State) secured the 14-2 victory.<\/p>\n
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Top Mallards<\/p>\n
\u2022 David Vinsky (Northwood) delivered a key two-RBI single to stake the Mallards to a 5-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning and finished a perfect 3-for-3 with 3 runs batted in and 3 runs scored<\/p>\n
\u2022 After a 3-for-4 Sunday afternoon, Justice Bigbie (Western Carolina) went 4-for-5 and knocked in 3 runs with a double and three singles<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jesse Forestell (Western Michigan) added to the offensive onslaught by reaching base four times in five trips, lashing two singles, driving in a run, and scoring twice<\/p>\n
\u2022 Connor Churchill earned the win by hurling five innings of three hit, two run ball<\/p>\n
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Next Up<\/p>\n