Just like the night before, the matchup between the Mankato MoonDogs and the La Crosse Loggers featured early scoring and lead changes, and just like last night, the MoonDogs came out on top, this time by a score of 6-5.

Once again, the MoonDogs faced a deficit before getting a chance to hit, falling behind 1-0 after a run came across on a double play.  That deficit was quickly erased in the second inning as the MoonDogs took advantage of an error by Loggers third baseman David Villar to tie the game at one.

But the home team was not quite satisfied, and proceeded to put together a rally in the very next inning.  Singles by Toby Hanson, Kenton Crews, Jake Ortega, and Alvaro Rubalcaba led to four runs in the inning for the MoonDogs, making the score 5-1.

Slowly but surely, however, that lead would shrink.  The Loggers scraped a run across in the fourth inning on a single by Jeremy Ydens, and added two more in the fifth, thanks to two sacrifice flies, to cut their deficit to 5-4.  MoonDogs starting pitcher Tyler Lesley exited the game after the inning, finishing with four earned runs given up on five hits, striking out two, and walking four.

Reliever TJ Satterly entered the game and pitched a scoreless sixth inning.  But one swing of the bat by Garrett Christman in the top of the seventh, resulting in a solo home run, tied the game at five.  Satterly then gave way to Austin Hansen, who managed to get out of the inning with score still tied.

The game did not remain tied for long, however, as the MoonDogs retook the lead immediately in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI groundout by Hanson.

Jake Shepski, usually an outfielder, continued his impressive streak of relief pitching appearances with a perfect eighth inning on the mound.  MoonDogs closer Naithen Dewsnap closed the door in the ninth, giving the fans a little more drama than usual, as he worked out of a bases-loaded jam to seal the victory for the home team.

Jake Ortega led the MoonDogs with three hits, while Ryan Kreidler, Hanson, Crews, and Rubalcaba each had two.  Crews and Rubalcaba also contributed two RBIs apiece.  With the win, the MoonDogs improve to 7-3 in the second half, and will stay home to play the Waterloo Bucks on Saturday.