With the game between the Eau Claire Express and Madison Mallards tied at zero in the fourth inning, the red-hot Mallards needed someone to step up. With one swing of the bat the team was provided with all the offense it needed, as Kelly Sweppenhiser hit a grand slam onto the party deck in right field, putting the Mallards on top 4-0. The team wouldn?t look back from there, going on to win 5-2, improving their record to 10-3.

Jake Hansen improved his record to 3-0 in 2005, and four Mallards pitchers combined to throw four innings of stellar relief. Hansen struck out four while allowing only two hits in his five innings of work. Matt Petty slammed the door on the Express in the ninth, earning his second save of the season.

Ryan Rogowski extended his hitting streak to 13 games, laying down a bunt single prior to Sweppenhiser?s grand slam. Nate Trumm provided the only other Mallard RBI with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.

The Mallards and Express are back in action Wednesday night, as Madison sends J.J. Hollenbeck (2-0) to the mound against Tom Eager (0-0) for Eau Claire. The Mallards return home Thursday to begin a four game homestand, taking on the St. Cloud River Bats at 7:05 p.m. at the Duck Pond. Tickets for every remaining Mallards home game are available online at www.mallardsbaseball.com or by phone at 246.4277.