Northwoods Madison Mallards

Mallards, Woodchucks Split Double-Header

Published on June 28, 2011 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Madison Mallards News Release


MADISON, WI - June 28, 2011. The Madison Mallards came into Tuesday evening one-half game behind the Eau Claire Express for first-place in the Northwoods League's South Division, and after a double-header split with the Wisconsin Woodchucks at the "Duck Pond," the team finds itself tied with Eau Claire for first. A total of 4,964 fans came out for the first twin-bill of the Mallards' 2011 season.

Game One (7 Innings) The Woodchucks carried over the momentum that they had accrued from Monday's 9-4 win over the Mallards to take game one by a score of 7-2.

Starter Tom Briner (UC - Davis) stymied the Mallards' offense through six of the seven innings played, allowing one earned run on only three hits. He struck out eight batters and walked none. The one run Briner (2-0) gave up was the first earned run to his statline this season, increasing his ERA to 0.56.

Mallards' starter Chris Burgess (Blackhawk College) was not as effective as Briner. Burgess (3-1) took his first loss of the season after going 4.2 innings. He allowed six earned runs on seven hits. Burgess walked six, struck out five, and allowed two home runs. His ERA now stands at 4.85.

Estevan Uriegas (Texas A&M), the newest member of the Mallards, came on in relief of Burgess and gave up one run in 2.1 innings of work. The left-hander looked impressive, striking out three of the seven outs he recorded.

The Mallards only had five hits as a team in game one, but were once again led by Jordan Owen (Tennessee - Martin), who had three hits in three at-bats. Owen also scored one of the two Madison runs and moved his batting average to a league-high .415. Justin Parr (Illinois) scored the other run and also had a hit. The other Mallard to record a hit in the game was Nate Theunissen (Central Michigan).

Wisconsin had three players tally multiple hits. Mike Gerber (Creighton), Carlos Escobar (Nevada - Reno), and Kyle DeMerritt (Santa Clara) had two hits apiece. Three players also had two RBI, led by Danny Susdorf (UC - San Diego) and Austin Coleman (CS - San Marcos), who both hit home runs in the win.Game Two (7 Innings) The Mallards battled back in game two of the series, winning the night-cap 3-2 in dramatic fashion.

Wisconsin appeared to pick up right where they left off in game one, scoring one run in the first inning, but the Mallards came back to score in the second as Andrew Barna (Davidson) scored on a Michael Handel (Minnesota) triple.

The Woodchucks would score again in the third, but that would be all they would get the rest of the night.

Madison rallied for a run in the bottom of the fifth as Niko Fraser (Elon) doubled with two outs and Mike McQuillan (Iowa) drove him in to tie the game. As the game moved to the bottom of the seventh even at two runs each, Justin Parr (Illinois) came to the plate to lead off and hit the third pitch he saw over the left field wall for a walk-off home run. The blast was his first on the season.

Nick Greene (Rio Hondo) started for the Woodchucks and gave up two runs in 4.2 innings pitched. He walked one and struck out five, but did not factor in the decision. Greene had 85 pitches, with 54 registered as strikes, 31 as balls.

The same was said for Mallards' starter Chris Lamb (Davidson). Lamb, making his first start of the season for the Mallards, went five complete innings and also allowed two runs, one walk, and had five strikeouts. He threw 83 pitches, with 52 strikes and 31 balls.

The win went to Mallards' reliever Matt Milroy (Illinois), who dominated the Woodchucks in two innings of work. Milroy (2-0) faced one over the minimum, walking one and striking out four.He had his off-speed pitches moving well, and had fastballs reach as high as 94 miles per hour.

Taking the loss for Wisconsin was Anthony Drobnick (Washington State). He pitched 1.1 innings and gave up the lone home run to Parr. Drobnick's loss moves him to 0-1 on the season.

The Mallards will stay at the "Duck Pond" after losing two of three in the series against the Woodchucks. They will take on the Green Bay Bullfrogs Wednesday and Thursday, and both games will start at 7:05 p.m.

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Northwoods League Stories from June 28, 2011


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