(8/4/06) Mike Nihsen threw a one-hitter, and the Duluth Huskies broke open a close game with a three-run outburst in the eighth inning to take a 4-0 win over the Mankato MoonDogs Friday night.

Nihsen outdueled Mankato’s Dan Klous, who also went the distance in taking the loss. Klous had previously thrown the only one-hitter in the Northwoods League this season, a seven-inning gem against Alexandria on June 17.

Shane Buschini’s single was the only base hit the MoonDogs could muster against Nihsen, who retired the final 16 batters he faced. In earning his eighth win, Nihsen tied teammate Andy Marks for the league lead. Nihsen struck out four and walked none in a game that concluded in just 1 hour, 40 minutes.

Duluth led 1-0 into the eighth inning on the strength of an unearned run scored in the fifth inning, when the MoonDogs could not execute a run down between third and home. With two outs in the eighth, Byron Wiley singled home a run and Brock Bond doubled in two more to break the game open.

Klous (2-5) allowed four runs, three of which were earned, and seven hits in eight innings. He struck out four and walked four.

The loss dropped the MoonDogs into third place in the North Division, 7½ games behind Duluth, who can wrap up the second half division title with a win and an Alexandria loss on Saturday.