MANKATO-Minn. The Mankato MoonDogs used a five run third inning to propel themselves to a 9-4 victory in game one of a double header vs the Thunder Bay Border Cats on Sunday afternoon.

Brett Synek started things out in the bottom of the third, reaching on a walk. He was then able to take second on a past ball and score on a Brinn Bell double down the right field line. The MoonDogs weren’t done yet as Tanner Rockwell added a two run home run on a deep line drive to left center field. Patrick Massoni then kept things rolling as he reached via a walk and stole second base. Then Brett Murray came up with a double to left center to score him and scored on a Dalton Deleon single up the middle.

Walks continued to be a problem for the Border Cats pitching staff throughout the game and in the bottom of the fourth, the MoonDogs drew a pair of walks and Levi Scott followed with a massive shot to left center field, a three run home run. It appeared that Scott had no doubt in his mind he got a hold of that pitch as he started a light jog toward first base immediately after his big swing.

The Border Cats were able to get on the board with a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but the MoonDogs pitching staff was able to keep them in check as starter Garrett Ring threw 4.2 innings and picked up the win. He allowed two earned runs on one hit and walked two. Ryan Powers took the loss for Thunder Bay, going three innings and giving up five earned runs off five hits.

The MoonDogs were able to keep the momentum from game one as they went on to defeat the Thunder Bay Border Cats 6-3 in the second game of today’s doubleheader at Franklin Rogers Park.

Brinn Bell got things going early in the top of the first with a single through the left side of the infield with two outs. Levi Scott, who has been feeling the groove lately, followed Bell with a line drive to deep left center field. Border Cats left fielder Robb Paller saw it go off his glove as he and the ball hit the wall hard and Scott was in with an RBI double.

Thunder Bay struck back in the top of the second with three runs off MoonDogs starting pitcher Taylor Elman as Nick Studer led off with a line drive double to left center and eventually scored on a fielder’s choice. The Border Cats would add two more to make it 4-3.

Luckily, the offense was just getting started for the MoonDogs and they were able to take back the lead 4-3 in the bottom of inning two thanks in part to another RBI double from first baseman Levi Scott.

Mankato scored two more in the bottom of the fourth and got a solid performance from relief pitcher, Tanner Rockwell. The MoonDogs ended the night with six runs on nine hits with a pair of errors while the Border Cats finished with three runs on three hits and two errors. Taylor Elman picked up the win, throwing five complete innings and giving up one earned run while striking out five and walking two. Thunder Bay starting pitcher Yuji Suzuki took the loss managing only three innings and giving up three earned runs on four hits.

The MoonDogs are back at Franklin Rogers Park tomorrow night to face the Kenosha Kingfish at 7:05pm.

The MoonDogs improve their record in this home stand to 5-1 and their overall record to 13-7, two games out of first place. The Zooperstars Entertainment Act will be on hand during the game for fans to enjoy. If you can’t make the game, be sure to listen to the radio voice of the team Josh Horton on AM1230 The Fan Mankato.

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 via the Northwoods League YouTube channel.  

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