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Published On: June 18th, 2013

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs snapped their three game losing streak, and broke out of an early season slump Tuesday night with an 11-4 victory over the St. Cloud Rox at Joe Faber Field.

Jon Perrin (Oklahoma State) made his MoonDogs debut in St. Cloud, allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out five Rox batters, without a walk over six innings.

St. Cloud took an early 1-0 lead over the MoonDogs in the bottom of the first inning on a two out Blake Headley (Nebraska) RBI single, bringing in Adam Martin (Western Carolina University from third after a two out triple.  St. Cloud extended their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third on a lead off solo home run by Charlie Morgan (Wake Forest).

Mankato erased the early 2-0 deficit in the top of the fourth, scoring four runs in the inning.  With the game tied up at 2-2, and with two outs on the board, Timothy Arakawa (Oklahoma State) singled to right field advancing Alex Polston (Seminole State) to third.  A Blake Headley throwing error to second base allowed both Polston and Arakawa to score, giving Mankato a 4-2 lead.

After adding two more runs in the sixth, the Dog’s offense struck again in the top of the seventh with another two out rally.  Hibraim Cordova (U. of The Cumberlands) smashed a three run homer over the left field wall, giving the MoonDogs a 9-4 lead.   

The MoonDogs capped off the offensive outburst with two more runs in the ninth inning on another Rox error, and a Josh Fuentes (Saddleback) RBI double.  In all, the Mankato offense posted 11 run on 11 hits, lead by Arakawa who finished the night 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.  Fuentes had another good night at the plate going 2-for-4 with a double and a run batted in, boosting his batting average to .571 this season.  Cordova also finished the night 1-for-4 at the plate, driving in four Mankato runs.

The MoonDogs bullpen pitched well in relief Tuesday night.  Donovan Feenstra (U. of the Cumberlands) did not allow a run over one inning, while walking one Rox batter, striking out two.  Zack Hobbs (Navarro JC) and Jess Amedee (Texas-Arlington) each faced just three batters in the eighth and ninth innings respectively.

The win gives Mankato their 10th win of the season, and puts them 10-10 overall,  four games behind the Willmar Stingers in the North Division race.

The MoonDogs will go for the series sweep Wednesday afternoon, with Sam Clay (Georgia Tech) making his first start of the summer for Mankato.

The Dogs return to the Frank on Thursday, June 20th for a pair of seven inning games against the Willmar Stingers.  Game one will start at 605pm, and game two will start shortly after the conclusion of game one.  Thursday will be T-Shirt Giveaway Night presented by HickoryTech, with the first 500 fans in attendance receiving  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.