The Madison Mallards used some late game heroics from a returning player to eke out another one run victory over the Mankato MoonDogs Sunday at Warner Park, 4-3, in ten innings.

Second baseman Dan Melvin (pictured below) arrived in Madison at 3 a.m. Sunday, caught a nap and found himself in the lineup for the Mallards. Melvin led Maryland in nearly every offensive category this past spring. Sunday, it wasn’t his power, but a well-placed and well-paced grounder that gave Madison the victory.

In the bottom of the tenth, Blaine Rutledge led off with a single. Mike Rohde followed with another single to right, moving Rutledge to third. After Ryan Bond was intentionally walked, Bobby Hubbard grounded out to first. Rutledge was forced out at the plate. Melvin followed with an infield single to score Rohde from third and give the Mallards the team’s second straight win.

Madison started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against MoonDogs pitcher Dane Secott. Rutledge singled with one out and moved to third on Rohde’s single to right. Bond grounded to shortstop, forcing Rohde at second. Bond, however, beat the throw to first and Rutledge scored on the fielders choice.

The Mallards added another in the bottom of the third when Kris Rochelle led off the inning with a triple. He scored on Jordan Comadena’s single to give the Mallards a 2-0 lead.

In the fourth, Madison scored another to give the Mallards a 3-0 lead. With one out, Hubbard drew a walk. After Melvin popped out, Joe Oliver singled. Hubbard advanced to second. Hubbard then scored on Jordan Wolf’s single.

Mallards starting pitcher Brian Smith was excellent for seven innings. He allowed only four hits and a walk while striking out four MoonDogs.

Mankato tied the score in the top of the eighth against the Mallards relief corps. Scott Reese began the inning on the mound. The first batter, Ben Geelan, hit a ball to Reese, but Reese threw the ball away. Nate Hanson followed with a single to move Geelan to second. Chris Rodriguez reached on a fielders choice with Hanson being erased at second. With runners at the corners, Madison called on Mike Creevy to pitch out of the jam. Creevy, though, allowed a homerun to Brandon Davis which tied the game at three.

Creevy picked up the win for Madison. Matt Mossey took the loss for the MoonDogs.

The Mallards hit the road for the first time Monday. Madison travels to Eau Claire for a pair of games against the Express. Both games start at 7 p.m. CDT and can be heard on Madison’s Fox Sports Radio, 100.5 FM.

The next home game for Madison is Wednesday, June 7. It’s Quench Gum Guaranteed Win Night as the Mallards host the Wisconsin Woodchucks. Single-game and group tickets are on sale now! For more information please log on to www.mallardsbaseball.com or call the Mallards ticket office at 608.246.4277.