Duluth, MN – The Mankato MoonDogs hadn’t trailed in a game at any point this season coming into Sunday’s contest with the North Division leading Duluth Huskies, who were looking to extend their half-game lead in the standings. Behind the arm of Josh Matheson and an unrelenting lineup, the MoonDogs were able to fight their way to a win at Wade Stadium.

Duluth went up early in the game when Nic Strasser (West Florida) scored on a while pitch in the first inning, allowing the Huskies to go up 1-0. The score would stay that way until the fifth, when Gavin Wehby (Nicholls State) singled home the tying run in Drew Fearing (North Dakota State) to even the ballgame up at 1-1.

Jake Shepski (Notre Dame) came through for the MoonDogs, giving them their first lead of the game as he ripped a double into left field, allowing Jordan Kozicky (Minnesota) to score the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh Duluth brought home two more runs on a Double by Grant Farley (Minnesota-Duluth) that scored Carter Hanford (Jefferson College), and a Steven Neutzling (St. Scholastica) single that allowed Farley to score himself, making it a 3-2 Duluth lead.

The eighth and ninth innings would provide high drama after Chase Hamilton (Austin Peay) brought home Kozicky on a fielder’s choice ground out.  Ridge Smith (Austin Peay) drove Hamilton in with a sacrifice fly to right field, putting the MoonDogs on top 4-3.

Brick Paskiewicz (Grand Canyon) entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning to close out the game for Mankato. With a runner in scoring position, Grand Farley lofted a fly ball to shallow right field that looked like trouble. Ridge Smith came racing in to make a feet-first sliding catch to end the ball game, allowing the remain undefeated while handing Duluth their first loss of the season.

Ryan Tapani (0-0, 1.12) took the hill for the Huskies, looking to create distance between themselves and the MoonDogs at the top of the North Division. Tapani would pitch lights-out for the Huskies, going 7.0 innings while holding the MoonDogs to two runs (one earned) on seven hits. The Duluth right hander struck out five without allowing a walk.

Josh Matheson (0-0, 0.00), not to be outshone, put up a stellar outing of his own. Matheson worked 6.0 innings of 1 run baseball, holding the Huskies to just four hits, two walks, and four strikeouts on the evening. While both starters pitched well enough to win, both were handed no decisions in their first starts of 2016.

Kevin Yarabinec (1-0, 6.00) earned his first win of the season while Alex Ferguson (0-1, 10.12) was charged with the loss. Paskiewicz (0-0, 0.00) notched his first save of the season in his first appearance as a reliever for the MoonDogs.

With the win, Mankato took sole possession of first place in the North Division, leading Duluth by .5 games.

The MoonDogs’ home opener is rescheduled for Monday, June 6th at 7:05 p.m. against the Willmar at Franklin Rogers Park. Season and single game tickets are now on sale, call 507-625-7047 or visit the MoonDogs’ office at 1221 Caledonia Street in Mankato for more information.

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The Northwood’s League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The
 23-year old summer collegiate 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 150 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM)
and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable via the Northwoods League website. For more
 information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com

The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, 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 150 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com