(Mankato, MN) Starter Bryan Longpre (Grossmont JC) pitched six solid innings of baseball not allowing a run on four hits and striking out one batter and the MoonDogs built a 3-0 lead for their starter going into the seventh, but this would be the last lead the team would hold as the Eau Claire Express rallied to score seven runs in the seventh inning, five off reliever Wes Freie (Iowa), to defeat the MoonDogs 7-5.

Michael Rockett (Texas-San Antonio) went 2-for-4 with a run scored and three runs driven in, and Cory Harrilchak (Elon) also had a two-hit performance, but it was not enough as the only error of the game for the MoonDogs became a costly one, leading to four unearned runs for the home team.

Freie ended up pitching one third of an inning allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits. He struck out the first batter he faced, but could not record an out after this. Zach Calhoon (Texas-San Antonio) allowed two unearned runs, but closed out the seventh inning for the MoonDogs. Josh Castanza (Hillsborough CC) came into the contest and pitched a scoreless eighth, giving the MoonDogs a comeback opportunity in the ninth, but the team came up just short scoring two in the ninth to bring their game total to five.

Mankato travels back home to Franklin Rogers Park to play St. Cloud on Thursday evening. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.