Green Bay Rockers All-Star Kendal Ewell delivered not once but twice with clutch home runs in a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Madison Mallards Monday night to sweep the organization's first playoff series in nearly a decade.
Sam Polk's RBI double in the third inning helped the Rockers take a 1-0 lead, but it was the Mallards' Keenan Taylor that set up a night full of theatrics with his three-run homer that made it look like a third and decisive game would be needed to settle the series. Ewell tied the game up with a two-run homer in the seventh inning before the Mallards pushed across another run in the ninth with a single up the middle to make it 4-3. With two outs and one man, Ewell deposited a first pitch to the right of the scoreboard in right field to win the game for the Rockers.
A suspended result and a likely third game will decide where and when the Rockers play next. The Kalamazoo Growlers will likely force a third game as they held a 14-5 advantage in the bottom of the fourth innings as they look to even their series against the Traverse City Pit Spitters. They will play again later that evening if the Growlers hang on. The division championship game is set up for Wednesday with a possible Northwoods League title matchup slated for Thursday.
