The Mankato MoonDogs dropped their first game of the season Thursday night, falling 3-2 to the Lakeshore Chinooks on a chilly night in Mequon, WI.
Despite ultimately dropping the first game of a four-game road trip, the MoonDogs did strike first for the third consecutive night. David Petrino drew a walk and later scored on an RBI double off the left-centerfield wall off the bat of Spencer O’Neil. The MoonDogs first baseman now has four RBI through just three games and has had at least one hit in each game.
Mankato added another run in the top of the second, extending its lead to 2-0 after 1 ½ innings of play. Jake Yacinich drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a Logan Gray single. Justin Fletcher then hit a puzzling bouncer towards the mound allowing Yacinich to score from third ahead of the throw.
The Chinooks picked up two runs to tie the game at 2-2 in the home half of the third. Lakeshore added runs in the fifth and seventh to secure a 4-2 victory.
G.J. Strauss picked up the win in relief for the Chinooks. The right-hander tossed five innings allowing just two hits and striking out six. Luke Lowery earned the save with three strikeouts in the ninth.
Jake Jenkins suffered the loss for the MoonDogs while Matt Pate tosses 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
The MoonDogs and Chinooks conclude a two game series tomorrow evening at 7:05 p.m. at Kapco Park. First pitch is scheduled 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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