MADISON, WIS. –  Mankato MoonDogs starter Brock Dykxhoorn (West Virginia) pitched six strong innings, allowing just two runs in a 6-2 win over the Madison Mallards Tuesday night at Warner Park.

Two walks to lead off the second came back to haunt Mallards starter Luke Staub (George Washington). After a single by MoonDogs catcher Matt Jones (Southern Illinois) and an error by Mallards third baseman Brock Stewart (Illinois State) that allowed two runs to score, Staub then allowed a two-run single to Hibraim Cordova (U. of the Cumberlands) to give Mankato a 4-2 lead.  

Staub threw 36 pitches in the inning and had to exit because the Northwoods League limit of 35 pitches per inning. Charlie Naso (Illinois) then came in for the Mallards and pitched scoreless innings in the third and fourth but could not get out of the fifth.  He would allow a pair of singles and an error charged to shortstop Erik Forgione (Washington) before being replaced by Joe Claver (Illinois State) with two outs in the inning after giving up two runs.  Claver walked the first two batters he faced to load the bases but got a groundout to end the inning.

Staub was tagged with the loss and drops to 3-4 while Dykxhoorn received the win after allowing two runs (both earned) on just four hits over his six innings of work. He improves to 3-3 on the year.

Ben Neumann (Northern Illinois) came on in the seventh and didnt allow a hit over his three innings of work.

All but two MoonDogs batters collected a hit on the night.  MoonDogs designated hitter Chase Simpson (Wichita State) went 2-for-5 with a double and catcher Matt Jones (Southern Illinois) finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored to pace the Mankato offense.

Paul Miittura (Middle Tennessee St.) pitched a scoreless eighth but allowed a single and two walks to bring Drew Weeks (North Florida) to the plate with the bases loaded.  Jess Amedee (UT-Arlington) then came in and struck out Weeks on four pitches to get the save.

Mankato wraps up their five game road trip with a two game series against the Green Bay Bullfrogs Wednesday night at Joannes Stadium.  Mankato returns to Franklin Rogers Park on Friday, August 2 to kick off a season-ending eight game homestand.  Next Friday is the Baseball Card Giveaway night presented by Sports PiX and Hot 96.7.

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.