(Mankato, MN) The Mankato MoonDogs won both games of a doubleheader for the first time this season taking the first seven inning contest by a score of 5-2. The home team took the second game of the evening by a final score of 4-2.
The star of the first game was Cory Harrilchak (Elon) as the left-hander pitched his second complete game of the season allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five. At the plate Harrilchak did not collect a hit, but he did drive Bobby Munoz (St. Leo’s) in from third in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly. C.J. Belanger (Cal-State Northridge) had one of his best offensive outputs of the season in the first game of the evening going 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored. Belanger also drove in two runs in the game. Munoz and Michael Rockett (Texas-San Antonio) were the only other MoonDogs with hits in game one as the team only needed four hits to put five runs on the scoreboard.
Travis Smith (Michigan) followed Harrilchak’s winning performance with a solid outing of his own going five innings for the MoonDogs allowing one run on three hits while striking out one. Brett Krill (UCLA) was 2-for-2 in the second game with a walk and two runs scored. Belanger also did damage in this game going 1-for-3 with his first home run of the season, a 3-run shot in the bottom of the fourth. Belanger’s home run broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning, and gave the MoonDogs enough offense to finish the two-game sweep.
Josh Castanza (Hillsborough CC) came in to pitch the sixth inning, but struggled to retire the side allowing one unearned run on two hits. Castanza was replaced on the mound by Scott Matyas (Minnesota) who pitched the final inning and a third to pick up his third save of the season. Smith also picked up his third win of the season pushing his season mark just over .500 at 3-2.
The MoonDogs will travel to Rochester for a game between the two teams on Thursday evening. The first pitch for this game is scheduled for 7:05pm. The win puts the the MoonDogs in a tie with Thunder Bay for the top spot in the second half North Division standings at 15-8. The MoonDogs are 35-22 overall this season. The two losses drop Rochester’s second half record to 9-15 and their overall record to 27-30.
