WATERLOO, IOWA-  For the Mankato MoonDogs, hits came in steady supply on Monday night.  Unfortunately runs did not come as easily, as the MoonDogs fell to the Waterloo Bucks 7-1 at Riverfront Stadium. 

Mankato was by no means quiet at the plate, out-hitting Waterloo 12-10 in the game but was only able to manage one run in the bottom of the first.  The MoonDogs stranded 14 runners on base in the loss. 

Defensively, errors haunted the MoonDogs time and time again, as the team racked up five on Monday, including three from starting pitcher Jon Perrin (Oklahoma State).  The most costly mistakes came in the sixth inning when two errors brought in two Waterloo runs, extending their lead to 4-1.  Prior to that point, the MoonDogs were only trailing by a run and constantly threatening to tie it up.

Despite a few standout performances by MoonDogs hitters, especially Woody Woodward (UC Santa Barbara), who finished batting three-for-three with two walks, and Tim Arakawa (Oklahoma State) and Matt Jones (Southern Illinois), who each had a pair of hits, Bucks’ starting pitcher Landon Simpson was able to minimize the damage.  Woodward has hit six-for-seven with a pair of doubles in his last two outings.

Waterloo has now taken four out of five against Mankato this season and takes one step closer to clinching the First-Half North Division Title, as they sit one game ahead of Willmar in the standings. The two teams will play one more in Mankato on Tuesday night as the MoonDogs look to play the role of spoiler. The game features a MoonDogs poster giveaway before the game and an autograph session afterwards, all sponsored by Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial and KXLP.  First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

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