The Mankato MoonDogs strong pitching and timely hitting continued leading them to a 4-2 victory over Alexandria in the home opener at Franklin Rogers Park in Mankato.
The MoonDogs struck first for the second night in a row on an RBI single off the bat of Spencer O’Neil.
Both pitching staffs kept each other’s offense in check until the top of the sixth when Alexandria picked up a run to tie the game at 1-1.
The MoonDogs offense awoke in the home half of the seventh, scoring three runs to take a 4-1 lead. Mankato picked up the first one on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Derek Umphres and then Brinn Bell came up and roped a tw0-run single to right field to cap the scoring.
Alexandria added a run in the eighth, but it was too little too late as the MoonDogs emerged with a 4-1 victory in their home opener.
Brock Dykxhoorn pitched well, but didn’t earn a decision. The right-hander tossed 6.2 innings, allowing an unearned run while striking out seven. Mark Curtis earned the win with 0.2 innings of shutout ball while Austin Warner picked up his first save of the season and struck out three.
The MoonDogs move to 2-0 while the Blue Anchors fall to 0-2. Mankato travels to Lakeshore Thursday afternoon to begin a four-game road trip against the Chinooks and Kenosha Kingfish. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.
The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live and free of charge via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com.
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