MADISON (PRESS RELEASE)- The Wisconsin Woodchucks (16-11) took their worst loss of the season Wednesday night as the Madison Mallards (10-15) scored early and often to defeat the ‘Chucks 11-1. The loss, combined with a win by the Eau Claire Express (16-10), knocked the Woodchucks out of first place in the south division, where they now trail Eau Claire by half a game. Starter Troy Marks (2-3) walked and hit back-to-back hitters in the first to put two on for Mallards cleanup hitter Harold Riggans, who deposited a 3-2 pitch into the short porch in right field for a 3-0 Madison lead and his third homer of the season.
The Woodchucks had a chance to come back in the second when Brandon King walked with the bases loaded to cut the lead to 3-1 with only one out, but a strikeout and a groundout allowed Matt LaMothe (1-2) to escape the jam. Lamothe breezed through 5 strong innings to earn his first win, allowing only one hit and striking out 7.
Madison immediately added 3 more in the second off of Marks, and it was a 6-1 Mallards lead. Andrew Klausmeier came in to relieve Marks, and pitched 1-2-3 third and fourth innings before being touched for 3 in the fifth and 2 in the sixth to give the Mallards a firm 11-1 lead.
Patrick Lala relieved LaMothe and allowed only two hits in his three innings, before Nick Rice pitched a perfect ninth to end the ballgame. The Woodchucks finished with just three hits, and though they drew 8 walks, none of those 8 walks came around to score as the Woodchucks left 9 on base.
The Woodchucks play a rubber game with the Mallards tomorrow night back at Athletic Park. First pitch is at 6:35.
Courtesy: Wisconsin Woodchucks
