Brainerd, Minn. – For the second consecutive night, the Mankato MoonDogs used a late inning rally to defeat the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers, this time 6-3 at Stewart C. Mills Field.

Blake Schwartz (Minnesota State, Mankato) made his ninth start of the summer for the MoonDogs, striking out 10 batters in seven innings. Schwartz (6-1) took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning before giving up a three-run double to Matt Hillsinger (Radford) with two outs.

The MoonDogs offense came alive in the eighth inning, for the second consecutive night, scoring three runs to tie the ball game, 3-3. The game remained 3-3 until the 11th inning when MoonDogs first baseman Zak Wasserman (Louisville) led the inning off with a double to deep right field. Two batters later, Josh Dahl (Central Arizona) drove in Wasserman with an RBI single. The MoonDogs added two more runs, taking a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the inning.

Mike Rivera (Fresno Pacific) earned his second victory of the summer, pitching a scoreless tenth inning. Patrick Goelz (Bethune-Cookman) entered the game in the bottom of the 11th, allowing two hits, but pitched a scoreless inning of relief, earning his seventh save of the summer.

The MoonDogs have now won seven straight games, matching their longest winning streak of the season. Mankato continues their nine game, eight day road trip, in Willmar for a three game series before heading back home for a pivotal two game series against the first place, Alexandria Beetles starting August 7 at Franklin Rogers Park. Tickets for any of the MoonDogs remaining home games are now on sale at the MoonDogs office located at 1221 Caledonia Street. For more information visit our website at www.mankatomoondogs.com or call the MoonDogs office at 507-625-7047.