(Mankato, MN) In a match up between two pitchers from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Ryan Demmin and Jeremy Rubens stole the show each throwing a gem for their respective teams, but a key triple for Ryan Rummel (Texas-San Antonio) in the bottom of the eighth started a rally for the MoonDogs and his RoadRunner teammate Michael Rockett (Texas-San Antonio) drove Rummel in for the eventual game-winning run as the MoonDogs defeated the Express 2-1 on Thursday night.

Demmin and Rubens each worked eight innings for their ball clubs with Demmin allowing one run on three hits while striking out eight and Rubens allowing two runs on eight hits. Scott Matyas (Minnesota) came into the game in the ninth inning for the MoonDogs and struck out two batters while allowing one hit to pick up his seventh save of the season.

Rockett and Cory Harrilchak (Elon) each produced two hits for the MoonDogs offense with Rockett driving in the game-winning run for the home team. Bobby Munoz (St. Leo’s) went 1-for-4 with a run batted in the third inning. CJ Belanger (Cal-State Northridge) and Mike Lobacz (Elon) joined Rummel and Munoz with a hit apiece in the contest.

The MoonDogs host division leading Thunder Bay for a two-game series on Friday and Saturday in one of the biggest series of the season for each team. The MoonDogs will send Bryan Longpre (Grossmont JC) to the mound tomorrow in hopes of continuing their winning ways. The team traveled to Thunder Bay last week and took two from the Border Cats at their stadium and will hope to do the same at Franklin Rogers Park. The first pitch for both games is scheduled for 7:05pm.