The Madison Mallards (2-1) fell 3-2 to the Traverse City Pit Spitters (3-0) in the Great Lakes Championship game on Wednesday night at Pit Spitters Park. Despite outhitting the Pit Spitters 8-7, the Mallards’ eight-inning rally came up short and Madison’s season came to a close one game shy of the Summer Collegiate World Series.
The Mallards’ offense came to life with a two-out rally in the eighth inning. EJ Ranel (Lenoir-Rhyne) laced a single to give Madison a pulse. After the Mallards worked a few walks, Ranel scored on a wild pitch to make it a 3-1 game.
Jordan Stephens (Miami-Ohio) ripped an RBI single and made it a one-run, 3-2 game. On the play, Justice Bigbie (Western Carolina) was cut down at the plate as the potential game-tying run.
Trevor Marreel (Washburn) was tagged for three runs over the first two innings and donned the loss for the Mallards.
The Mallards close the books with another 40-win regular season, finishing 42-30 and falling one game shy of another appearance in the Northwoods League Championship. Once again, Madison led the league and the entire nation in summer collegiate attendance, averaging over 6,000 fans every home game.