BIG INNINGS LEAD MALLARDS TO COMFORTABLE 14-3 WIN OVER WAUSAU

MADISON, WI- After Wausau won the first two games of its 2025 series against Madison, the Mallards responded with a decisive 14-3 victory against the Woodchucks in game three at Warner Park.

Madison scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth and five runs in the bottom of the eighth to cruise to victory. The Mallards scored a season high in runs in a single game, while Wausau lost by more than 10 runs for the first time this season.

The game remained close early, with Woodchucks starter Sam Nitzke (Angelina College/UT-Tyler) limiting Madison to just one run on two hits through the first four innings. But the momentum shifted in the fifth, when Nitzke gave up back-to-back home runs that sparked a Mallards rally. From there, Madison seized control, and Wausau was unable to recover.

After Wausau surrendered seven runs in the fifth, the Woodchucks got all their offense on the night in the top of the sixth. Keagan Jirschele (South Dakota State) earned an RBI on a single that scored Anthony Quigley (South Florida). The next batter, Christian Smith-Johnson (Texas A&M-CC), brought two runs in on an RBI single up the middle.

Smith-Johnson finished the day 2-4, meaning his hit streak to open the season moved to 12 games. He also now leads the Northwoods League with 17 RBIs this season and has 28 career RBIs in his two seasons with Wausau.

With the loss, Wausau drops to 8-5 on the season, as Madison broke the Woodchucks’ three game win streak. Wausau is now 6-2 in the month of June, and 2-3 on the road in 2025.

Wausau and Madison now share the top spot in the Great Lakes West, with Madison holding two games in hand. Tomorrow afternoon, one will take sole possession of first place in the division, as the Woodchucks return to Warner Park for the finale of their four-game series with Madison. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

While the Woodchucks do not return home until Thursday, June 12, Athletic Park will host the inaugural game for the Wausau Ignite softball team, as they host the La Crosse Steam on Tuesday, June 10. First pitch for that contest is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Fans can see every single moment on the diamond at Athletic Park this summer by purchasing tickets at woodchucks.com.