MANKATO, MINN. – After shutting out the St. Cloud Rox on Saturday, the Mankato MoonDogs pitchers had a much harder time producing outs on Sunday in a 14-8 defeat at Franklin Rogers Park, shortened by rainfall.

From the fourth inning on, the MoonDogs could not turn the side in any less than six Rox batters, as Mankato got dinged for 13 hits and nine walks on the night.

Donovan Feenstra (University of the Cumberlands, 2-2), in his first starting role, played well in his first three innings but ran into trouble in the fourth, when three walks and a base hit were able to load the bases and bring in St. Cloud’s first run.  The Rox added three more before the end of the frame when Clay Williamson hit a double to left field which spelled the end of Feenstra’s day.

Relievers Bryan Bonnell (UNLV) and newcomer Jordan Deponte (New Mexico St.) hardly fared any better, as they respectively gave up three runs in two innings and five runs in one and two-third innings. 

A five-run seventh inning for the MoonDogs was able to keep them in contention as they closed an 11-2 Rox lead to 11-7, but St. Cloud was able to pull away again in the eighth.  Zach Zehner (Cal Poly SLO) accounted for much of the surge with a three-RBI double. In the next at-bat, John Michael Twichell scored what stood to be the last MoonDogs run in the game with a two-run homer, his third of the season.

St. Cloud looked primed to extend their lead even further on MoonDog pitcher Zach Hobbs (Navarro JC) but the game was ultimately called after eight full innings as heavy rains and thunderstorms closed in on the ballpark. 

The two teams split the two-game series, with the MoonDogs holding a 4-2 edge in the season series.  The loss drops Mankato back to .500 in the Second Half with a 2-2 record in the early going.

The MoonDogs are hungry to string a few wins together, and will have to do so on the road as they travel to Rochester for a two game series starting Monday.  Mankato then travels to Alexandria for a game on Wednesday and returns to the Frank to kick off a four-game home stand against the Blue Anchors on July 11.  The game marks the return of the ZOOperstars to Mankato, as the renowned entertainment group will have plenty of surprises in store for all in attendance.  First pitch is scheduled to fly at 705 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.