ST. CLOUD, Minn.– Matt McDaniel and the Mankato MoonDogs stayed hot, turning in their first shutout of the 2012 season with a 5-0 win over St. Cloud Saturday night at Joe Faber Field.

McDaniel (Quincy) was dominant in his first start in a MoonDogs uniform, allowing three hits while striking out a team high seven batters over six innings. The Southpaw struggled with his command early, but found his groove in the middle innings, at one point retiring six consecutive Rox batters, five of which were strikeouts.

Mankato’s offense broke up the scoreless tie in the top half of the second, after a leadoff double from J.M.Twitchell (UT-Arlington) and a run scoring triple off the bat of Trey Nielson (Utah). Nielson would score two batters later, on a RBI single off the bat of Frank Arena (Seminole State), Arena’s first hit and RBI this season.

The MoonDogs offense kept the pressure on all night, adding additional runs in the fifth, sixth,and eighth innings, with every batter in the Mankato lineup collecting at least one hit. The ‘Dogs finished the night with five runs on 12 hits, and now have the top offense in the Northwoods league, totaling 50 base hits and 29 runs scored thus far. That’s an average of 12.5 hits and 7.5 runs per game.

St. Cloud’s starter, Ben Meyer (Minnesota) suffered the loss in his first start of the season, allowing three runs on eight hits over five innings.

The MoonDogs (4-0) wrap up their three game series with the Rox (1-3) Sunday night, sending right hander, John Walter (Penn State) to the mound in search of their second consecutive series sweep. First pitch on Sunday is schedule for 6:05pm from Joe Faber Field.

Mankato then continues their four game road trip with a two game set in Duluth before returning home to Franklin Rogers Park, Wednesday, June 6th against the Thunder Bay Boarder Cats. Wednesday night is Magnet Schedule Night at the Frank, presented by AM 1230 The Fan Mankato. The first 1,000 fans receive a free 2012 MoonDogs magnet schedule.

Season and single game tickets can be purchased 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.