The Battle Creek Bombers fell to the Mankato Moondogs, 2-0 Friday night at C.O. Brown Stadium, as they Moondogs took the early lead and were able to shutout the Bombers at the plate.

Chi-Ping Wu got the start for the Battle Creek Bombers, but the Moondogs got to him in the first inning. After a leadoff single by David Metzgar, Alvaro Rubalcaba drew a walk and Jake Shepski reached safely on an infield hit to load the bases in the top of the first. Chase Hamilton gave the Moondogs a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly but Wu struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam.

The Moondogs would get to Wu again in the second though, knocking him out after just 1.2 innings pitched as Jordan Kozicky led off the second with a triple and scored on Jake Roberts single to give the Moondogs a 2-0 lead.

Austin Bueter came on in relief for Wu with runners on first and third and two outs facing Shepski, the leading hitter for the Moondogs and in the entire Northwoods League, but he got Shepski to fly out to end the inning, keeping the Moondogs lead at 2. Bueter pitched 6.1 innings of scoreless baseball for the Bombers, keeping the Moondogs lead at 2 through the eighth inning.

At the plate, the Bombers would have their chances, with five hits and ten total baserunners, but the Bombers left 8 runners on base.

Wu takes the loss for the Bombers, while Reece Eddins picks up the win for Makato. With the loss the Bombers fall to under .500 at 19-20, and 1-2 in the second half. The Moondogs move to 23-15 on the year with the win and 1-2 in the second half as well.

The Bombers and Moondogs return to action Saturday night to finish off the two-game interdivision series at 6:05 on Cereal City Night at C.O. Brown Stadium.