Madison, WI – The Mallards gave starter Giovanni Canales a five-run lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning and never looked back in their 9-4 Wednesday night win.

Madison’s offense caught fire in the 2nd frame behind six consecutive hits. Jackson Chatterton led things off with a double and the carousel spun from there. After the early 5-0 lead, the Mallards were able to hold off a sporadic offensive performance from the Dock Spiders throughout the rest of the game.

Fond du Lac got on the board in the top of the 3rd with a quick response against Canales. A Mallards’ error off the bat of Jack Gorman allowed two runs to score, cutting into the lead. With the bases loaded and just one out, Canales ended his day by stranding all three after a pop-out and a fly-out tracked down by center fielder Korbyn Dickerson.

After the long offensive 2nd, 10 straight outs were recorded by Fond du Lac pitching until the Mallards added two more in the 5th when Chatterton drove in his second run of the season. Dylan Nevar would later walk in a run to make it a 7-2 Madison lead.

The Dock Spiders offense chipped away slightly at the Mallards’ lead in the 6th and 7th innings with an RBI single from Lorenzo Rios and a mashed home run by Paul Wittman. The Mallards would add two more in the bottom of the 8th as insurance to put Fond du Lac away on a two-out two-run double off Keenan Taylor’s bat.

Out of the bullpen, the Mallards used three arms in relief of Canales. Leading the charge was Will Simmons, striking out four in six batters faced in his first trip to the mound on the year. Will Morris shut the door, entering in the 8th and picking up a six-out save.

A six-game road trip is on tap for the Mallards beginning with the series finale tomorrow in Fond du Lac. First pitch is scheduled for 11:35 A.M. from Herr-Baker Field.