The Mankato MoonDogs might be the hottest team in the Northwoods League right now, as they beat the Willmar Stingers 1-0 Tuesday night to extend their win streak to three games. In Michigan, the Battle Creek Bombers swept the Kalamazoo Growlers in a doubleheader, while in Iowa the Waterloo Bucks topped the St. Cloud Rox in a rain-shortened affair.

Minnesota-Iowa Pod
Mankato MoonDogs 1 Willmar Stingers 0
The Stingers threatened to tie the game in the ninth, but Tyler Eckberg (Kansas State) was able to induce a flyout and a groundout to slip out of the jam and give the MoonDogs their third consecutive win. Dylan Phillips (Kansas State) had the lone RBI for the MoonDogs, as it was his groundout in the fourth that allowed Evan Berkey (CSU-Bakersfield) to score the only run of the game. Shane Barringer (Bellarmine) got the start for Mankato and tossed a gem, lasting seven innings, allowing no runs on five hits with seven strikeouts to pick up the win.

Waterloo Bucks 6 St. Cloud Rox 2 (7 innings)
The Bucks scored four runs in the bottom of the first to take an early lead that they didn’t relinquish, as they nipped the Rox in a game shortened due to rain. Jalen Smith was 2-3 for Waterloo, with a home run and three RBI. Xane Washington (Nicholls State) was 2-3 with a double and a run scored. Alec Huertas (LIU-Brooklyn) was dominant on the mound, throwing six full innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out two batters to pick up his first win of the season.

Michigan Pod
Battle Creek Bombers 7 Kalamazoo Growlers 3 (5 innings)
A six-run second inning was plenty for the Bombers in game one of their doubleheader Tuesday evening. In the inning, the Bombers had six runs on three hits and benefited from three Kalamazoo errors. Lyle Hibbitts (New Mexico State) got the start for the Bombers and threw three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and recording five strikeouts to pick up his second win of the season. It was a team effort for the Battle Creek offense, as they recorded five hits, all of which came from five different players.

Battle Creek Bombers 9 Kalamazoo Growlers 2 (5 innings)
Battle Creek took game two of the twin bill thanks to Tyler Wardwell (Miami University of Ohio), who was 1-1 for Battle Creek with a double and three RBI. Michael Morissette (Miami University of Ohio) was 1-1, with a two-RBI double while Peter Hutzal (Marshall) was 1-2 at the plate, with a pair of RBI. Thomas Schultz (Vanderbilt) got the start for the Bombers and threw two innings, allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Christian Grigsby (Lamar) came on in relief, and threw two shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking our five batters to pick up the win. Nolan Lamere (Clarke) threw a scoreless perfect final inning to nail down the victory.

Wednesday, July 22 schedule (All times Central unless noted)
Kalamazoo Mac Daddies at Battle Creek Bombers 5:15 p.m. ET/8 p.m. ET
Traverse City Pit Spitters at Great Lakes Resorters 7:05 p.m. ET
Waterloo Bucks at Rochester Honkers 6:35 p.m.
La Crosse Loggers at Green Bay Booyah 6:35 p.m.
Rockford Rivets at Fond du Lac Dock Spiders 6:35 p.m.
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters at Wisconsin Woodchucks 6:35 p.m.
Willmar Stingers at St. Cloud Rox 7:05 p.m.
Bismarck Larks at Bismarck Bull Moose 7:05 p.m.