THE DUCK POND ? You?re not supposed to win games like this?you?re not even supposed to come close.

For seven and a half innings the Madison Mallards were out hit, out pitched, and seemingly out of it trailing 6-2 to the Alexandria Beetles in the bottom of the eighth inning. Then, in full view of 4,448 fans, the Mallards turned it all around.

Josh Wettlaufer led off the home half of the eighth with a home run onto the deck in right to make it a 6-3 game. After another run crossed, Mallards pitcher Tyler Bullock (he was inserted in the top of the inning) stepped up to the dish and promptly launched a three-run shot over the left field wall that gave the Ducks the lead 7-6 and brought the overflow crowd to its feet.

Bullock got the win as the pitcher and smacked the game-winning homer as a hitter.

?We want to win every game,? exclaimed Mallards pitcher Kyle Yates, who picked up his 4th save of the season by closing it out in the 9th. ?You can never count us out of any game.?

It was the first time in team history that the Mallards hit two home runs in an inning. The Ducks also reached the 100 stolen base plateau last night, far and away the most in the league and still on pace to beat the all-time record which was set at 192.

The Mallards are also back in first place. After winning the first-half and securing a playoff spot, the Ducks are 1-0 in the second half.

Today, the Mallards will go for the sweep of the Beetles. It is American TV Stars and Stripes Baseball Day. The first 500 fans 14 and under will receive a Mallards patriotic baseball. Also, show your AAA card and you can get 2-for-1 reserved or general admission tickets.

The gates will open at 2:15pm with the first pitch scheduled for 3:35pm.