Big Fourth and Fifth Innings Put Away Huskies
Brendan Reilly, bgr28@miami.edu
Mankato, Minn- With the Huskies looking to pick up their fourth straight victory and secure the sweep over the Mankato Moondogs, it was the Huskies jumping out to an early lead at ISG Field, but Mankato came firing back as Duluth will have to wait for their first chance at a pair of sweeps, dropping game two, 13-2.
The Huskies (16-24) went ahead early off the bat of the all-star Mike Boeve who drove in his 25th RBI of the season in the top of the third, but from there Mankato (29-12) started to take over.
Cameron Pool was cruising through the first three innings, but ran into some problems in the fourth, coming out after three and one third innings, giving up four runs on three hits.
The Moondogs were able to tack on seven more runs in the bottom of the fifth on one hit, as walks hurt the Huskies tonight. The Huskies walked a total of 13 batters, with nine coming in the fourth and fifth innings.
With one out in the fifth, the Huskies decided to go to position players trying to conserve arms before a doubleheader at The Wade tomorrow against Eau Claire.
Manager Marcus Pointer turned to designated hitter Blayne Robinson who went an inning and two thirds, catcher Ryan McDonald who came in for the seventh, and first baseman Peyton Powell for the eighth. The three combined for three and two third innings, giving up two runs.
The Huskies would tack on one more in the ninth when Mike Boeve plated Beau Wimpee on a sacrifice fly. Boeve finished the night 2-3 with two RBIs, while his partner on the left side of the infield, Michael Brooks, went 2-2 with three walks, reaching base all five times he came to the plate.
The Huskies are back at it bright and early tomorrow, as they welcome in the Eau Claire Express for a doubleheader back at Wade Stadium for the final time this year. The Huskies come into tomorrow one game up over the Express in the Great Plains East division. First pitch of game one is set for 12:05 p.m., while game two is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
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The Duluth Huskies are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 250 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.duluthhuskies.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Huskies as your favorite team.
