Battle Creek, MI — The MoonDogs scored two runs in the first two innings of Friday night's series opener against the Battle Creek Bombers. Those two runs would be all Reece Eddins (Nebraska) would need to lock down his third win of the season at C.O. Brown Stadium.
Eddins made his fourth start for the MoonDogs on the road Friday, while Mankato tried to get back into the win column. Eddins needed minimal run support to get the job done, maintaining a shutout through his six innings pitched. Eddins would finish the game allowing four hits while issuing three walks with a strikeout in the win. The right hander has pitched very well for the MoonDogs in his second year with the team, and now holds a record of 3-1 this year with an ERA of 2.70.
Mankato got out to their early lead in the first inning, when Chase Hamilton (Austin Peay) hit a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed David Metzgar to score from third base. The MoonDogs tacked on their second and final run in the second inning, when All-Star Jordan Kozicky scored after leading off the inning with a triple.
Battle Creek stayed within striking distance all night long, with Austin Bueter (Northwestern Ohio) relieving Chi-Ping Wu (Taiwan) who started the game. Bueter went 6.1 innings of three hit relief, issuing just three walks while striking out a game-high of six. The MoonDogs bullpen continued what Eddins had started, with Kevin Yarabinec (Youngstown State) pitching a scoreless seventh, and Brick Paskiewicz earning a 6 out save where he issued one walk.
The MoonDogs will play their final game in Michigan during the regular season tomorrow, as they take on the Bombers again at C.O. Brown field. First pitch will be at 6:05 PM EDT (5:05 CDT) and can be heard on The Fan Mankato.
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The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd 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 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 portal. For more information, visitwww.mankatomoondogs.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the MoonDogs as your favorite team.
