EAU CLAIRE- Wisc. The Mankato MoonDogs were unable to mount a comeback in Eau Claire as they lost a second straight game on the road against the Express 5-2 on Saturday night. The Express did the most damage in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs on two hits. Zach Gilles led off with a single, then stole second. Following Gilles, Justin Evans drew a walk and in the same at bat, Brett Newberg made a throwing error, allowing two runs to score. Things got worse for the MoonDogs when Nic Ready singled and advanced to second on the second MoonDogs error of the inning. Pete McEvoy drew a walk and Nic Ready eventually came around to score the third run of the first.
After a three run first, the Express added a fourth run in the third when Daniel Jones walked and came around to score on a McEvoy single. Trailing 4-0, the MoonDogs were able to mount a pair of runs in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with one out. Dylan Dressel singled, scoring Ethan Valdez from third. On the next at bat, Alvaro Rubalcaba hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Sam Troyer, who was able to tag from third base.
4-2 Was the closest Mankato would come to tying the game as Express pitching proved to be too much for the MoonDogs hitters to handle. Ryan Zimmerman (St. Thomas) went 6.0 innings in his first start of the season, allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits and adding a pair of walks while striking out 3. Zimmerman got the win for his strong effort but Josh Gaworski was just as effective in relief, going the final 3.0 innings and allowing zero runs and 2 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3. Gaworski allowed a leadoff double in the ninth to Justuce Nelson but then sat down three in a row to finish the game, picking up his first save. Brett Newberg took the loss for Mankato, going six innings and allowing 4 runs (3 ER) on 4 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3.
The MoonDogs (2-3) will finish their four game road trip tomorrow with a second game against Eau Claire (3-2) at Carson Park with first pitch scheduled for 5:05pm.
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The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit [www.mankatomoondogs.com]or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the MoonDogs as your favorite team.
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The Northwoods 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 20 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC).
All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
