(8/12/06) He may not have joined the Mankato MoonDogs until last week, but boy, does Jeff DeSmidt know how to make his mark, both on his team and on the baseball.

In just his fifth game, DeSmidt went 4-for-5 with a home run and five runs batted in as the MoonDogs scored five times in the first inning and six more times in the third en route to a 14-6 win over the Eau Claire Express Saturday night. The 14 runs were a season-high for the MoonDogs.

DeSmidt, who is now 10-for-19 (.526) since joining the MoonDogs, singled in the first inning to put Mankato ahead 2-0. Tim Smith had led off with a double and scored on a single by Ryan Addison. Later in the inning, James Keithley singled home a run and scored on one of three errors committed by the Express in the first. Eau Claire had eight errors on the night, setting a new franchise mark.

DeSmidt’s three-run home run in the third capped a six-run inning that put the MoonDogs ahead 11-2. He added singles in the sixth and seventh innings, the latter driving in Addison for his fifth run batted in.

With an 11-3 lead after three innings, Pat Cassa could not record an out in the fourth. After loading the bases, Cassa was relieved by Jason Belk, who recorded a strike out and two fly balls to escape with only one run allowed. Belk finished by surrendering just one hit in three shutout innings to earn his first win.

Smith went 2-for-6 for the MoonDogs with three runs scored and stole his 19th base, and Addison went 2-for-5 with three runs batted in. Chris Rodriguez also collected two hits and scored twice.

Mankato MoonDogs—Baseball Unleashed!