(Mankato, MN) The Mankato MoonDogs scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-1 lead over the Battle Creek Bombers, but this would be the last time the scoreboard at Franklin Rogers Park would show the home team winning as the Bombers put two runs up in the top of the third and four up in the top of the seventh to defeat the MoonDogs 7-4 on Thursday night.

Starter Ryan Demmin (UW-Oshkosh) pitched six solid innings for the home team allowing four runs on ten hits while striking out one. Demmin gave way to Kolby Wood (Michigan) who struggled to retire batters in the seventh inning allowing three runs (two earned) before settling down and pitching two shutout innings in the eighth and ninth.

The MoonDogs attempted to make a comeback in the bottom of the eighth loading the bases with one out, but the home team could only push two runs across with Brett Krill (UCLA) coming in on a Carlos Ramirez (Chandler-Gilbert) sac fly and Bobby Munoz (St. Leo’s) scoring on a throw down to second attempting to pick off Cory Harrilchak (Elon).

Ryan Rummel (Texas-San Antonio) had a productive night at the plate collecting a hit and two runs batted in while several other MoonDogs also had one hit on the evening. Wes Freie (Iowa) and Mike Lobacz (Elon) each went 1-for-3 on the evening scoring a run to fuel the MoonDog offense, but this would not quite be enough for the ‘Dogs who drop to 4-2 in the second half and 24-16 overall on the season. The win improves Battle Creek’s record to 2-4 in the second half and 12-28 overall. Duluth will travel to Franklin Rogers Park on Friday to begin a two-game home stand with Mankato. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.