Duluth, MN — Jack Flansburg slapped two hits in the ball game, but it wasn't enough as the MoonDogs drop their third straight on Thursday night against the Huskies. Duluth would take the first game of a two game set by a score of 4-2 at Wade Stadium.
Both teams would be finished scoring after the fourth inning of play, with the Duluth Huslkies (17-10, 37-26) scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning to take back the lead for the rest of the game against the Mankato MoonDogs (12-15, 30-33). The winning hit would be off the bat of Elliott Barzilli, as he knocked in Cal Stevenson and Colton Waltner to give Duluth a 4-2 lead, which would hold up to be the final score.
The lone runs for Mankato would come in the top of the fourth, when Chirstoph Bono shot a two run homer to left field. The opposite field long ball would score Jack Flansburg, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in the loss. Bono finished the day 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs.
Rickey Ramirez (1-1) took the mound for the Mankato MoonDogs looking to help his team bounce back after losing both games of a doubleheader on Wednesday. Ramirez would last just three innings in this start, allowing two runs on four hits in the no decision. Ramirez struck out six while walking three. Austin Warner (1-5) would wind up with the loss, charged with two unearned runs over his four innings of five hit ball. Warner also struck out three without issuing a walk.
Eric Morell (4-2) picked up the win for Duluth, allowing just two runs on five hits over seven innings of work for the Huskies. Morell would strike out three MoonDogs with just one walk in his dominant, quality start. Austin Carpenter would come on in the ninth to strike out two and pick up his 13th save of the year for the Huskies.
Mankato and Duluth will square off again tomorrow to complete the season series in Wade Stadium with both clubs fighting for their playoff lives. First pitch will be at 6:35 PM. You can tune in to all of the action on The Fan Mankato with the voice of the MoonDogs, Shawn Murnin.
“The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website"
