WATERLOO, IOWA-  The Mankato MoonDogs offensive struggles continued, losing to the Waterloo Bucks 11-4 Sunday afternoon at Riverfront stadium.

Julian Esquibel (1-1, 3.29 ERA) made his second start of the summer for Mankato, allowing six runs over 6.2 innings.  Esquibel was in cruise control over the first three innings, facing the minimum in his first trip thru the Bucks batting order.  Esquibel (Faulkner University) allowed the first four Waterloo batter to reach base in the fourth, and ultimately gave up three runs on three hits.  The right-hander settled down in the fifth with a quick 1-2-3 inning, capping it off with a Marcos Calderon strike out to end the inning.   In all, Esquibel gave up five earned runs while walking two batters, and striking out three in the loss to Waterloo.

JT Miller pitched seven innings for Waterloo, allowing one run off four hits and striking out six MoonDogs batters.  Miller has emerged as a consistent force for the Bucks, going at least six innings in all three of his starts and never allowing more than one run in any of his appearances.

Offensively, Waterloo displayed incredible balance as every one of the starters either scored a run or had an RBI in this game.  David Kerian led the team by going 3-4 with three RBI’s.

The MoonDogs finally scored their first run in the top of the seventh inning when Matt Wollenzin hit a double that knocked off the center field wall, bringing Zach Zehner all the way home from first base. Later in the inning, with runners on first and second, Chesny Young made an incredible diving stop of a Quinton Mack grounder. Young fired to Mackenzie who threw to first base to finish off the double play to end the inning.

John Ziznewski led off the bottom of the seventh inning for Waterloo with a single down the middle, and moved into scoring position when he stole second base.  After Marcos Calderon legged out a single to move Ziznewski to third, Pat Mackenzie hit a single to bring him home. Chesny Young was up next and got his second hit of the game to plate Calderon. The Bucks scored one more run when David Kerian hit a blooper to left field that brought Mackenzie home to increase the Bucks lead to 7-1.

Waterloo erupted for four more runs in the eighth inning to increase their lead to 11-2.  Connor McClain led off the inning with a single and would advance to second base on a Duluth error.  Two batters later, McClain scored off a Blake Hickman sacrifice fly to center field. Waterloo’s next two runs came on consecutive bases loaded walks that scored John Ziznewski and Gerrion Grim III. Marcos Calderon scored the last run for the Bucks off a David Kerian sacrifice fly.

The last two runs came in the top of the ninth when Quinnton Mack hit a home run that also plated Jonathan Rodriguez to cut the Buck lead to 11-4.

The MoonDogs will look to spit the series with Waterloo on Monday evening.  Cameron Gianinni (Southern Miss) will get the start for Mankato, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm at Riverfront Statium. 

The MoonDogs return to the Frank on Thursday, June 20 to play a pair of seven inning contests against the Willmar Stingers.  Game one will start at 6:05, and game two will start shortly after the conclusion of game one.  The game is T-Shirt Giveaway Night presented by HickoryTech, the first 500 fans in attendance receive a free MoonDogs t-shirt. 

Season and single game tickets are on sale at the MoonDogs office located at 1221 Caledonia Street in Mankato.  For more information visit the teams website at www.mankatomoondogs.com or call the office a 507-625-7047.