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Published On: June 6th, 2008

(Mankato, MN) On Wednesday night, the Battle Creek Bombers used a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings. Thursday, the Northwoods League Northern Division leaders returned the favor by batting around and rallying for six runs in the eighth inning, which eventually led to a 9-5 victory. The win pushes the MoonDog’s record to 6-1 on the season, while the Bombers drop to 2-6 on season, four games back of division leading Madison.

The League Leading MoonDog offense showed why they are at the top of the pack in batting average collecting 14 hits on the evening and reaching base eleven times by walking. Mankato did leave 17 of these runners on base, but the run producing hits came when they were needed. Kyle Knudson (Minnesota) and Matt Prokopowicz (Hofstra) had three hits apiece for the Moondogs with Knudson recording two doubles and a single and Prokopowicz producing three singles. Justin Milo (Vermont) and Nate Hanson (Minnesota) also made their presence felt with two hits apiece. Knudson, C.J. Belanger (Cal State Northridge), and Bobby Munoz (St. Leo’s) all drove in two runs in a winning cause.

The MoonDog pitching staff also had a solid performance after the bullpen was stretched thin in Wednesday night’s 14-inning marathon. Starter Patrick Lenton (MSU-Mankato) pitched three innings allowing two runs on four hits. Tuesday night’s starter Ryan Demmin (UW-Oshkosh) made an emergency appearance and also went three innings allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits. Thomas Phelps (Whittier) went the final three innings allowing one unearned run on two hits to pick up the victory for the MoonDogs and evening his mark on the season at 1-1.

The MoonDogs continue their six game road trip tonight at Green Bay with the first pitch at 7:05p.m. The game will be webcast by our very own J.J. Hartigan with his pre-game show beginning at 6:45p.m.