Jansen looks to lead league in victories with win Friday against Bucks

Jacob Esch (Georgia Tech) hit his first two home runs of the season last night in front of a Mallards season-high crowd of 7,475 fans. His clutch two-run shot in the eighth inning gave the team a 7-5 lead heading into the final frame.

Waterloo, WI - July 31, 2009. The Mallards will lean on veteran pitcher Matt Jansen (Purdue) tonight as the team, now one-half game out of first place, takes on the third-place Waterloo Bucks in a 7:05 p.m. tilt at Riverfront Stadium.

Jansen, a 2008 Northwoods League Mid-Season All-Star, will make his 11th start of the season after posting a 6-1 record and 2.58 ERA over 59.1 innings thus far. His six victories are tied for the league lead. In his last start Jansen faced the same Waterloo club and allowed only on earned run in seven innings of work but received a no-decision for his efforts.

Meanwhile Waterloo will counter with left-hander Rick Dodridge (Central Michigan) who is 3-3 with a 5.98 ERA over 40.2 innings, including 8 starts. Not an overpowering thrower, Dodridge has struck out 26 batters while walking 14 on the year.

Madison has had the Bucks' number all season in having defeated Waterloo five out of six games thus far. Tonight's two-game series marks the final meeting between these two clubs.

Waterloo has posted a 12-18 record at home while the Mallards bring a 16-12 road mark to Riverfront Stadium tonight. Both squads bring a two-game losing streak into the contest.

Inside the Numbers:
Strikeouts Galore
There's a good chance those in attendance tonight will see a barrage of strikeouts as Waterloo and Madison rank #1 & #2 in team strikeouts with 451 and 437, respectively.

TGIF
Madison owns a 7-2 record when playing on Fridays while the Bucks are only 3-7 on the same day of the week. On Saturday's the Mallards are 6-3 and Waterloo is 1-8.

The "Beast" nears a record
Mallards first baseman/designated hitter Harold Riggins (NC State) is now only two RBI away from tying the franchise's run producing mark of 48 set last season by left-handed hitting Rob Lyerly (Charlotte). Lyerly was selected in the 6th round of this year's MLB Draft by the New York Yankees.

Unexpected power surge
Jacob Esch (Georgia Tech) hit a pair of home runs in last night's loss, his first two of the season, to extend his RBI total to 12 and bump his average to .294 through 33 games.

--
The Mallards return home on Friday, August 7 for a four-game series against the South Division First Half Champion Eau Claire Express and the Green Bay Bullfrogs.

Plenty of great seats are available for that series and can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling the box office at 608.246.4277.