MANKATO, Minn. – In the last home game of the season and game one of the Summer Collegiate World Series the Mankato MoonDogs got the ax, falling 12-2 to the La Crosse Loggers at Franklin Rogers Park Thursday.

Typically in the closer role for the 2012 season, the MoonDogs switched gears for playoffs and started Patrick Goelz (Oklahoma City) on the bump. Goelz, who holds the All-Time MoonDogs record for Career Saves with 23, struggled in his 5.2 innings of work. The right-hander gave up two home runs and allowed eight runs on eight hits, while striking out 11.

Trailing 8-1, Julien Soucy (Missouri Baptist) took the mound in the sixth inning to relieve Goelz. In his sixth game of the season Soucy tossed 3.1 innings, striking out six Loggers, but allowed four runs on three hits to finalize a 12-2 defeat over the MoonDogs.

Crossing the plate for the ‘Dogs was Audie Afenir (Palomar College) in the fourth inning and Chase Simpson (Oklahoma) in the sixth to score the MoonDogs their only two runs of the evening. Offensively Afenir went 2-4 at the plate, with a double, a run batted in and one run scored.

Behind in the series 0-1, the MoonDogs will head to La Crosse Friday for game two of the Summer Collegiate World Series for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. If a game three is needed the Loggers will host the ‘Dogs Saturday at 6:05 p.m.