Mankato, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs keep finding ways to win ball games. Despite being no-hit through five and two-third innings, the MoonDogs used an infield single by Jimmy Patterson in the sixth to pull out a 1-0 victory over the Waterloo Bucks Friday evening at Franklin Rogers Park.

Through five and one-half innings the two squads had combined for just one hit. Lance Ray (Western Nevada) reached on a walk and then stole second base with two outs and Patterson (Central Arizona) up. Patterson then hit a slow groundball to third baseman Troy White (Northern Illinois), beating the groundball as White threw wildly, allowing Ray to come around to score the game’s only run.

As the score would indicate, pitching was the story of this game as Lenny Linsky (Hawaii) and James Wise (Washington State) locked horns in a classic pitchers’ duel. Linsky hurled six innings of one-hit ball for the Bucks, striking out seven, but also walking seven and allowing the unearned run. He fell to 0-2 on the season.

Wise made his MoonDog (10-5) debut Friday, and he did not disappoint, allowing just two hits and striking out seven in five innings. It was Alex Burgos (Manatee CC), however, that picked up the win. The rising sophomore pitched four innings of near perfect relief, allowing just one hit and striking out seven to go to 1-1 on the season.

The two teams combined for just seven hits on the evening, as Patterson had two knocks for the MoonDogs. Ryan Durant (Iowa) and Nick Judkins (Iowa Central) also added a hit apiece for the Dogs.

Michael Giller (Illinois) led the charge for the Bucks, posting two hits of his own. Zach McCool (Iowa) added the other hit for Waterloo (3-12).

The MoonDogs will wrap up a six-game homestand tomorrow as they will play the Bucks for the final time in the regular season. It’s Ladies Night at The Frank, as all ladies get in for free. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.