The Madison Mallards traded in their big bats Wednesday for some good old-fashioned pitching and defense at the Duck Pond.
Though it was not the type of game Madison has grown accustomed to at home, it was just as effective as they held off the Duluth Huskies 3-2 for the team’s seventh straight home win, improving the Mallards overall record to 10-3.
Starter Joe Yermal pitched six solid innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out five to earn the win. Denny Clement, who just joined the team this week, held the Huskies hitless over the final two innings for the save.
In a small ballpark that usually sees a lot of home runs when the Mallards are in town, the pitcher’s duel fans saw Wednesday night was a bit out of the ordinary.
“It was just a great pitched game by both sides,” Yermal said. “I gave up the solo home run, but just keeping the ball down is the key to success in this ballpark.”
On the other side, Duluth starter Kyle Stewart — who Thieleke tried to recruit to MATC — pitched nearly as well, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out nine in a losing effort for the Huskies, who drop to 7-6 with the loss.
Stewart took advantage of an off night for the Mallards’ offense, getting them to chase early and often, which led to the nine strikeouts.
“It was a good pitcher’s duel,” Thieleke said. “I thought the Stewart kid — you know, a La Crosse kid, true freshman — he pitched well. Any time we’re striking out a lot it’s probably due to pitch selection.”
Offensively, neither team really got comfortable at the plate in the game. The Huskies got on the board first with a pair of singles in the second inning by Jared Womack and Nick Rickles and a defensive miscue by the Mallards.
Womack got things started, leading off the inning with a single to right. Following a sacrifice bunt to move Womack over, Rickles singled to left, advancing the runner to third.
Following him was first baseman Zac Elgie, who ripped a hard grounder to third — scoring the run — and reached base as third baseman Jacob Esch’s throw sailed over the head of Harold Riggins at first.
The Mallards would answer in the bottom of the inning, as Jerrud Sabourin, who walked to lead off the inning, came around to score on a single to right by Joe Patterson.
Madison took a 2-1 lead in the third on a solo shot to right by Kurtis Muller.
“The last two nights, Kurtis has been big for us,” Thieleke said. “He had a big game for us [Tuesday] night going 4-for-5 and followed it up [Wednesday] with a big home run.”
The Huskies wouldn’t go down without a fight, however, as they came back to tie the game up with one swing of the bat in the sixth inning. Womack struck again for Duluth, driving a ball out to right on a pitch that Yermal left up and over the plate.
Womack, a freshman from Oklahoma State, finished 3-for-4 on the night while scoring both of the Huskies two runs in the game.
Madison didn’t let the game stay tied for long, plating a third and final run in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double by Esch. The third baseman didn’t hit the ball hard, but hit a blooper down the line in right, scoring Sabourin from second base.
In addition to the game-winning hit, Esch redeemed himself with a pair of diving stops in the game after letting a throw get away from him early on.
“It was fun to watch,” said Brandon Wikoff, shortstop for the Mallards who was drafted in the fifth round of the MLB Draft Wednesday by the Houston Astros. “He was lights out down there and changed the game totally around. We’d probably lose that game without his plays.”
Wikoff, who had been starting at shortstop and leading off for the Mallards, sat out after being drafted by the Astros organization. He was in uniform, however, and even threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game.
Madison and Duluth will square off again Thursday night at the Duck Pond as the Mallards look to stay undefeated at home with Cody Winiarski set to take the hill for his third start.
