Duluth, MN – The Mankato MoonDogs swept the Duluth Huskies at Wade Stadium on Sunday afternoon, extending their winning streak to five games on the season. Nate Jones struck out a game-high nine Huskies as part of a 15 strikeout team effort. Mankato won by a score of 6-1 in the series finale.
Mankato (5-0) sent Nate Jones (2-0, 0.00) to the mound in Duluth on getaway day, trying to notch their fifth straight win of the season before heading back to Mankato for their home opener on Monday. It worked. Jones struck out a game-high nine hitters, using a curveball that seemed unhittable.
Jones earned his second win of the season in Duluth, a game that took over three hours due to a 45 minute rain delay. A stoppage in play occurred with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning due to lightning. Jones returned to the hill to finish what he started, but would be pulled from the game after recording the final two outs of the inning.
Mankato would use five pitchers in-all, with all but one recording a strikeout. The final tally would be 15 strikeouts of Husky hitters, while allowing just five hits in the game.
First baseman Bryce Adams (LSU) made his debut in the MoonDogs lineup, going 3-for-5 while scoring a run in the win. Second baseman Jake Shepski went 2-for-4 while driving in a game-high 2 RBIs for Mankato. Marcus Pingleton also scored a game-high two runs.
Jones earned the win, his second of the season. Duluth’s starter, Minnesota State University’s Mitch Bauer, was charged with the loss after he allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits with a walk and one strikeout.
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