After a heart-breaking loss in the first game, the MoonDogs suffered another heart-breaker to the same Beetles squad last night. The Beetles punched out 16 hits while committing 6 errors in the contest, compared to 8 hits and 3 errors by the MoonDogs club. However, Alexandria still wound up on top 11-9 after a dramatic two-run homer in the 8th inning by Jeremy Burchett.

In the first game, the MoonDogs comeback fell just short. But last night they would comeback after being down 8-5 and take a 9-8 lead. The ‘Dogs would tie the score at 8 in the top of the 7th before taking a 9-8 lead.

Unfortunately, the slim lead would evaporate quickly. The homerun by Burchett in the bottom of the 8th off of MoonDogs reliever Scott Sharpe put the Beetles up for good 10-9. They would add an insurance run in the 8th as well.

Mankato was led by L.J. Mims and Barrett Rice. Mims went 2 for 4 while running rampant on the base paths stealing a base and scoring 3 runs. Rice was also 2 for 4, scoring 2 runs and batting in 2 runs.

The MoonDogs road-trip will continue in La Crosse on Friday and Saturday, then finish in St. Cloud before heading home for Monday’s contest against the same River Bats club.