MANKATO, MINN. – The Mankato MoonDogs were firing on all cylinders during a commanding 11-3 victory over the Rochester Honkers on Tuesday night at Franklin Rogers Park. 

Led offensively by Chase Simpson’s (Wichita State) 3-for-3, four RBI performance, Mankato put up 14 hits and controlled the game wire to wire for their fourth straight victory at the Frank.  The All-Star Infielder got the MoonDogs on the board right away when he jacked his eighth home run of the season, a two-run shot over the right field fence.

Mankato opened game up with four more runs in the second frame, giving them an early 6-0 lead.  Five hits strung out on Rochester starter Nathan Roth including two more RBIs from Simpson provided the MoonDogs’ firepower in the inning.

After a single, an error, and two walks by MoonDogs starter Kahana Neal (Univ. of the Cumberlands) brought home Rochester’s first run in the top of the fifth, cutting Mankato’s lead to 6-1, they answered back quickly.  Zack Zehner (Cal Poly SLO) hit a two-run shot, his second of the year to put the MoonDogs up by 7.

The teams traded runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but the MoonDogs’ early offense gave them plenty of breathing room.

Neal got Mankato off to a great start on the defensive side of the ball, throwing five innings giving up four hits and no earned runs, striking and walking three.  Cody Jansen (Purdue North Central), Paul Mittura (Middle Tennessee St.) and Jordan DePonte (New Mexico St.) split the last four frames, giving up five hits and two runs.

The win is Mankato’s sixth straight against their Southern Minnesota foes, giving them a 6-2 edge in the season series with two games to go.  Rochester falls to 1-12 in the Second Half while the MoonDogs improve to 9-4, remaining three and a half back of Waterloo, who won in extra innings Tuesday against Willmar. Mankato holds on to a game lead on third place St. Cloud and Duluth in a North Division race that is tightening up by the day.

Mankato travels to Rochester where the Honkers and MoonDogs will play at Mayo Field on Wednesday before returning to the Frank on Thursday for the series finale.  Thursday is Farm and Food Night presented by Blue Earth County Farm Bureau, Corn and Soybean Growers and their checkoffs along with Minnesota 93. There will be food samples, meat raffles and much more as the first pitch is scheduled for 705 p.m..

Great seats are available to all remaining home games, on sale at the MoonDogs office located at 1221 Caledonia Street in Mankato, as well as over the phone at 507-625-7047.  To stay up to date, Like the MoonDogs on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter (@MoonDogsBall), or visit the website at www.mankatomoondogs.com.