The tough stretch of games for the MoonDogs continued on Thursday night with an extra innings loss to the Alexandria Blue Anchors at Franklin Rogers Park. The loss was the fourth straight for a team that has lost a number of one run games this season, this time 5-4.

After going down 2-0 in the top of the second, the bats started rolling  for Mankato in the fourth when Tanner Rockwell got a lead-off double and Spencer O’Neil followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield. Brett Synek reached base on a hit by pitch later in the inning and catcher Dalton Deleon was able to drive in a run on a single.

The three two lead wouldn’t last though and the Blue Anchors wasted no time putting up two more runs in the top of inning five. Jake Bergren walked to start the fifth and Kris Goodman drove him in with a double down the left field line. Roman Collins then followed with an RBI single to put the Blue Anchors ahead by a run.

The MoonDogs tied the game in the eighth inning off a double by left fielder Eric Schenck-Joblinske but the relief pitching from both teams did quick work in the late innings and it remained 4-4 until a one out double from Alexandria first baseman Aaron Gretz in the top of the eleventh. A costly MoonDogs error at first base put a pair aboard for Alexandria and a pinch hit single from Jordan Lee drove in one to make it 5-4.

Mankato was able to put a pair of runners aboard in the bottom of the eleventh. They advanced to second and third respectively but Tanner Rockwell flew out to center field to end the game. The MoonDogs now drop their record to 17-14 in the first half division standings.

The Mankato MoonDogs will be back in action to try and even the series with Alexandria at Franklin Rogers Park. First pitch is at 7:05pm. Fans can listen to all games live on AM1230 The Fan Mankato with the radio voice of the MoonDogs Josh Horton.