Mankato, Minn.- The Mankato MoonDogs lost to the Thunder Bay Border Cats by a score of 12-2 at Franklin Rogers Park Tuesday night. The Border Cats were in control the entire game thanks to a great pitching performance by Border Cat John Straka (North Dakota St.). Straka pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up only two runs on five hits and striking out seven MoonDogs and is now a perfect 3-0 on the season. Jordan Remer (San Francisco) suffers the loss for the MoonDogs, Remer is now 1-2 on the season.

The MoonDogs offense was once again led by Shaun Cooper (Utah) who went 3-4 from the plate with two home runs, a single and two RBI. Cooper had his first home run in the first inning as the MoonDogs drew first blood. Thunder Bay’s offense started rolling in the third inning thanks to a pair of back-to-back solo home runs by Matt Stevens (Central Michigan) and Mike Hubbard (Stony Brook). Stevens was 2-5 in the game with 2 RBI and a single to accompany his home run. Hubbard was 1-3 on the night and scored three runs for the ‘Cats. The Border Cats had a total of three home runs in the game with Alex Guthrie (Loyola Marymount) had the third home run in the top of the ninth inning. The Border Cats scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning and three runs in the top of the ninth inning to add to their lead.

The MoonDogs will try and take two games out of three from the Border Cats Wednesday night, June 29th, before heading north of the border for two more games at Thunder Bay. Wednesday is MoonDogs team Poster Night! The first 750 fans will receive a free 2011 MoonDogs team poster!