The Mankato MoonDogs fell to an early 5-0 deficit, but fought back and on the heels of a solo homer off the bat of Eric Schenck-Joblinske, took game one of a two game set in Alexandria by a score of 6-5 in 11 innings at Knute Nelson Park on Thursday evening.
The Blue Anchors came to hit, scoring three runs in the first and two more in the second. However, MoonDogs starting pitcher Taylor Elman settled in, tossing three scoreless innings to keep the Blue Anchors lead from swelling.
The MoonDogs offense awoke in the middle part of the game, pitcking up a run in the third on an RBI groundout by Brinn Bell and then three more in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Peter Maris and a two-run single by Levi Scott to make it a 5-4 ballgame heading into the bottom of the fifth.
Tanner Rockwell provided the first bit of power for the MoonDogs when he tied the game with a solo shot that sliced over the right-center field wall in the top of the eighth.
Both teams had trouble generating offense in the latter part of the game, but Schenck-Joblinske gave the MoonDogs just enough for victory with his solo blast to centerfield to lead off the top of the eleventh inning.
The Blue Anchors made things interesting in the ninth, loading the bases with one out, but Tyler Mark did what he has done all season – get the big outs when he needs them – to secure the 6-5 victory in extras and earn his eighth save of the season.
Jake Westerhouse was masterful in relief for the MoonDogs. The right-hander tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while walking one and striking out six en route to his fifth win of the season.
With the win the MoonDogs improved to 12-8 and are tied for second place with the Waterloo Bucks just one game behind the Wilmar Stingers for the North Division’s Second Half Championship with 16 games remaining.
The MoonDogs and Blue Anchors meet again Friday evening at 7:05 p.m. Dillon Williams gets the nod for the MoonDogs while Jason Zgardowski takes the ball for the Blue Anchors.
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. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com.
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