The Madison Mallards bid to win their fourth straight game to start the 2005 season fell short Saturday in large part to a sloppy defensive performance that resulted in four unearned runs as the Mallards fell 8-4 to the Duluth Huskies. Despite the loss, a season high 5,843 people on hand at the Duck Pond were treated to a post game spectacular highlighted by the human cannonball David ?The Rocket? Smith.

The Huskies (1-3) jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but the Mallards put together a substantial comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs in the fifth left fielder Ryan Rogowski lined an RBI single that scored right fielder Jordan Comadena. Designated hitter Mike Rohde followed up Rogowski?s RBI single with a two-RBI single that cut the lead to 4-3.

But the Huskies would not allow Madison to steal Duluth?s first victory of the 2005 season and added three more runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by a Ryan Price two-RBI double with the bases loaded.

Mallards pitcher Mark Moriarty yielded the first run of his two-year Mallard career in the ninth inning when he walked in the final run of the game.

The Huskies were lead by designated hitter Brandon Bingham who went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Huskie third baseman Pat Moran and right fielder Adam Ethier each finished with two hits for Duluth.

Brent Varnado picked up the loss for the Mallards, throwing 5 1/3 innings while giving up one earned run and striking out five.

The Mallards are back in action tomorrow night as they travel to Brainerd to take on the Blue Thunder at 6:05 p.m. The Mallards return home Wednesday to take on the Eau Claire Express at 7:05. For tickets contact the Mallards at 246.4277 or at www.mallardsbaseball.com.