Northwoods Madison Mallards

Mallards Walk-Off with Verdi's Homer in Twelfth Inning

July 7, 2012 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Madison Mallards News Release


Madison, WI - Mallards' shortstop Tom Verdi (Connecticut) connected on a fastball in the twelfth inning off of Express reliever Tony Vocca (Utah) to get his first home run of the season and deliver the Madison Mallards (2-0, 18-19) an 8-6 win over the Eau Claire Express (0-2, 11-25). The win gave the Mallards the second game of the three game series to put them in a position to sweep tomorrow.

For the second consecutive night Express first baseman Casey Gillaspie (Wichita State) began the evening's scoring with a two run homer to left field. The home run, his seventh of the season, put the Express up 2-0.

The Mallards responded in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI groundout by third baseman Jose Trevino (Oral Roberts). With right fielder Tyler Marincov (North Florida) on third base, Trevino hit a hard ground ball to Express shortstop Ty Forney (Texas-Permian Basin) who chose to take the out at first rather than contest Marincov at the plate.

The Mallards added an insurance run in the sixth inning with Marincov's third RBI of the game. With center fielder Mike Gerber (Creighton) on third base, Marincov dribbled a grounder to Express second baseman Tim Zier (San Diego State). Zier was unable to make the play on Marincov and allowed Gerber to score.

The Express weren't done yet though, as right fielder Josh Scheffert (Nebraska) tied the game in the eighth inning with a deep two run shot to center field off of Mallards reliever Will Lamarche (Chabot College).

Neither team would score until the 10th inning, when Scheffert hit his second two run home run of the game off of Mallards closer John Hamilton (UNC-Charlotte) to put the Express up 6-4.

The lead didn't last long, as first baseman Jeff Zimmerman (Northern Illinois) tied the game at six with a deep home run to left field. The homer scored third baseman Jose Trevino (Oral Roberts) who led off the inning with a single.

Verdi had had enough by the twelfth inning, when his two run blast to left field allowed the Mallards to walk-off for the fourth time this year.

Mallards reliever Danny Sullivan (Madison College) got the win after pitching a scoreless 12th inning to setup the Mallards victory in the bottom half of the frame.

Mallards starter Kurt Giller (Oral Roberts) was solid in his fifth start of the season, going 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts.

Vocca (1-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up the walk-off home run to Verdi. Through 3.2 innings of relief the right-hander gave up four runs on six hits and walked one.



Northwoods League Stories from July 7, 2012


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