Alexandria, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs lost to the Alexandria Beetles on Wednesday night at Knute Nelson Memorial Park in 10 innings by a score of 4-3. The series is now tied 1-1. The MoonDogs were down early, then climbed back into the game in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the score 3-3. Both teams battled to the finish and fought themselves out of tough situations all night long.
The MoonDogs fell behind in the second inning with the Beetles taking a 2-0 lead. They added to their lead in the fifth inning to give themselves a 3-0 advantage heading into the final three innings of the game. The MoonDogs battled back immediately, scoring two runs in the sixth thanks to a pair of singles by Cody Ferrell (Seminole St.) and Shaun Cooper (Utah), to put runners on base. Nick Judkins (Creighton) then loaded the bases after he was hit by a pitch. Steve Nyisztor (Rutgerts) took advantage of the opportunity and singled to score Ferrell from third. Cooper then scored after Beetle catcher Robert Case (St. John’s) couldn’t handle a pitch that went to the backstop. The MoonDogs kept the momentum going into the seventh inning when Mason Randolph (Texas Tech) scored to tie the game at 3 heading into the eighth inning.
Both teams couldn’t capitalize in the eighth or ninth inning and the game headed into the 10th inning. The MoonDogs went down one, two, three in the top of the tenth. After two walks and a wild pitch, Matt Mazzoni (Fresno Pacific) found himself in a tough situation with runners on second and third with one out. Mazzoni struck out Tanner Vavra (Valaparaiso) for out number two. Unfortunately, Mazzoni couldn’t find his control after that and walked two more Beetles which scored Nick Gumm (Maple Woods CC) from third.
The MoonDogs and Beetles will battle again tomorrow night at 7:05 at Knute Nelson Memorial Park in Alexandria in the decisive game three. The winner will advance to the Summer Collegiate World Series and play the Battle Creek Bombers who won the South Division Tuesday night with a 9-8 win over the Green Bay Bullfrogs. Tune in to JJ Hartigan, the voice of the MoonDogs, tonight at 7:05 live on mankatomoondogs.com or The Fan, Mankato at 1230 AM.
