After suffering a 2-1 loss to the La Crosse Loggers Sunday afternoon in Madison, the Mallards returned the favor Monday night. The Mallards (5-6) used timely hitting and a stellar start from Jake Eiler to thump the Loggers 3-0 in La Crosse.

Eiler delivered six and a third innings of five hit ball to earn his first victory of the season. Eiler (1-1) only got into trouble once. In the third inning, he faced a bases-loaded, two-out jam before retiring the Loggers No. 3 batter Matt Einspahr on a fly ball to right field. Eiler put things on cruise control from there, finishing with five strikeouts while allowing zero runs.

With two outs in the fourth, the Mallards received consecutive hits from Greg Thomson, Chad Frk, and Abe Aguirre. Aguirre?s bloop hit into right field scored Thomson giving the Mallards a 1-0 lead.

The Mallards played small ball in the sixth, as Greg Thomson stole second base and then reached third on a throwing error by catcher Adam Fleenor. Chad Frk then delivered an RBI single to put the Mallards up 2-0. Thomson later added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Mallards reliever D.J. Roshone slammed the door shut after Eiler left in the seventh, throwing a perfect 2 2/3 innings. Roshone earned his league leading fourth save of the season.

The Mallards (5-6) have won four of their last five games after starting the season with four straight losses. The club will attempt to even their record at home tonight against the St. Cloud River Bats. Game time is 7:05 and tickets are still available at the Mallards office located at Warner Park.