Rochester, MN – Connor O’Neil threw struck out seven hitters, but two runs in the fifth and sixth innings by the Honkers would shut down Mankato as they would lose the Rochester 4-1 at Mayo Field on Monday Night.

Miles Mastrobuoni would hit an RBI triple in the sixth inning, and eventually be driven in by Matt Fiedler to score the third and fourth runs of the game by the Rochester Honkers (15-11) as they beat the Mankato MoonDogs (14-13).

Fiedler also drove in William Paschal in the fifth, before Connor Schaefbauer singled to drive in Miles Mastrobuoni during the very next at bat. This gave the Honkers the lead after being down for the first four innings of the ball game.

Mankato was the first to strike in the top of the first inning, after Jack Flansburg reached on an infield single, eventually finding his way to home plate when Mikel Mucha doubled to center. Mankato would score just the singular run on six hits spread out through the lineup.

Mankato’s Connor O’Neil (1-2) was charged with the loss, though he pitched 4.0 innings while allowing just three hits that would yield two Honkers’ runs.  O’Neil walked five while striking out seven for Mankato.

Jordan Gross (1-1) picked up the win, allowing just one run on four hits over his six innings of work. He would walk just one while striking out four. Ricky Delgado (1) picked up the save for Rochester.

Mankato will host the Thunder Bay Border Cats on Tuesday night for the second meeting between the two teams. The first 500 fans at the ballpark will receive a free MoonDogs hat, courtesy of Community Bank. First pitch is at 7:05 PM

“The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website."