DULUTH – The Mankato MoonDogs experienced their first rainout of the 2013 season on Saturday, setting up a double header against the Duluth Huskies on Sunday afternoon. The MoonDogs collected just two hits in game one of the double dip, losing the opener 7-1 at Wade Stadium before rebounding to win game two 7-2.
Game One: Duluth 7, Mankato 1
Timothy Arakawa’s (Yavapai) leadoff walk set up a Jonathan Rodriguez (Oklahoma City) RBI single to give Mankato an early 1-0 lead over the Huskies, and Zach Zehner (Santa Barbara CC) collected his team leading eighth hit of the summer in the first, but that was it for the Mankato offense in game one. In fact, the MoonDogs would have just three men reach base over the final six innings of action with 16 of the final 19 batters retired by Duluth pitching.
Dan Mooney (Ohio Dominican) took the loss in game one, allowing three runs on five hits over 3 2/3 innings.
The MoonDogs offense bounced back in game two of Sunday&rsquos double-header, picking up an impressive 7-2 win over Duluth.
With two men on and two outs in the sixth inning, Jake Ellison (Middle Tennessee State) smashed a three-run homer over the left field wall to give the Dogs a 6-1 lead. Ellison collected four RBI in game two, and Zach Zehner once again paced the offensive attack, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of runs scored.
Ricky Jacquez (Central Arizona) picked up the win in his first start of the summer, allowing one unearned run over four innings while striking out three. Brandon Jackson (Nicholls State) tossed the final three innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits while walking a pair of Duluth Batters.
The MoonDogs wrap up their four game road trip with a quick two game series against the Thunder Bay Border Cats starting Monday night at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Monday night&rsquos game is schedule to get underway at 605pm CT, with the pregame show hitting the airwaves at 545pm on AM1230 The Fan Mankato.
The Dogs returns to the Frank on June 5 for another date with Rochester, with the first 500 fans receiving a commemorative Brandon Crawford poster sponsored by Sport PiX and AM 1230 The Fan Mankato. Season and single game tickets are 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.
