The Mankato MoonDogs cruised to a 9-2 victory over the St. Cloud Rox at Franklin Rogers Park on Tuesday afternoon, but the Rox prevailed in the nightcap with a 3-2 victory at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud.

The MoonDogs jumped out to 1-0 lead when Brett Murray scored from second on a puzzling ground ball single to the right side that ricocheted off the first baseman’s glove and was then thrown away by the second baseman.

St. Cloud bounced back with a two-run single down the left field line by Harrison Wenson to give the Rox a 2-1 lead after four innings of play.

Mankato struck back in the top of the seventh, tying the game at 2-2 on an RBI bloop single to left field by Craig Lepre.

Wenson broke the 2-2, beating out an infield single on a ground ball in the hole between shortstop and third that allowed Chris Paul to score from third.

Tyler Peitzmier picked up the win in relief for the Rox, allowing just one run in 2 2/3 innings on the bump. Dalton Sawyer earned the save with a scoreless ninth.

Cord Cockrell pitched well, earning the no-decision, allowing two runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. The right-hander struck out six and walked just one. Jacob Westerhouse pitched well, but was the victim of the ground ball single, suffereing his second loss of the season for the MoonDogs.

The MoonDogs and the Rox conclude a three-game series on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch from Joe Faber Field is slated for 7:05 p.m.