La Crosse, Wisc. – Kody Rock (Mayville State) goes 7 innings for Mankato, and MoonDogs pitching holds the Lumbermen offense to just 5 hits in a 4-2 win.
Loggers’ starter Randy Labaut (Arizona) struggled from the start of the game. After striking out the leadoff batter in the 2nd inning, Randy walked the next two batters. Jake Robets (Gonzaga) brought in the first run of the game on a soft line drive single to center, scoring Alvaro Rubalcaba (Cal. State Northridge) from 2nd base.
Drew Fearing (North Dakota State) led off the 3rd with a double to left-center. Jake Shepski (Notre Dame) hit his 11th home run of the season over the left field wall, extending the MoonDogs lead to three.
The Loggers’ bats woke up in the 5th. Until that point, Mankato’s starting pitcher Kody Rock (Mayville State) held La Crosse to just one hit. Cesar Salazar (Arizona) and Justin Wylie (San Diego State) singled back-to-back with one out. Kyle Plantier (UC-Santa Barbara) put the Loggers on the board with a single to left, scoring Salazar. La Crosse loaded the bases, but a fielder’s choice ended the threat.
Mankato grabbed another run in the 9th on a double to left fielder by Jordan Washam (Louisiana Tech).
The Loggers still had some fight in them. A leadoff walk by Cullen Large (William & Mary) turned into a run on a Cesar Salazar (Arizona) ground out to short. But Brian Gadsby (UCLA) was able to close the inning for a 2-inning save, his 5th of the season.
Kody Rock pitched 7 innings for the win (1-0), giving up 1 run on 4 hits. He walked 5 batters with 1 strikeout.
Randy Labaut (1-2) last 2.1 innings, giving up 3 runs on 3 hits. He walked 5 batters with 2 strikeouts.
Jared Liebelt (Waubonese CC) pitches 5 scoreless innings in relief, striking out 3 MoonDogs on 2 hits.
La Crosse falls to 17-13 in the 2nd half (34-32 overall). Mankato wins their 3rd straight to move to 21-10 in the 2nd half (43-23 overall). The MoonDogs will stay in La Crosse for two more nights before both teams head to Mankato for the final series of the season between the two teams. Tomorrow is the Big Dreams Showcase in Madison. Four Loggers are participating in the 4:05 PM game: Mason McCoy (Iowa), Griffin Conine (Duke), Nick Raquet (William & Mary), and Dave Smith (Long Beach State). Game time Wednesday is a 7:05 first pitch. It will be a jersey auction night to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network, presented by Firefighters Credit Union.
