The second game of the double header between the Mankato MoonDogs and the Eau Claire Express featured less scoring, but much more rain. The two teams scrambled to play the five innings required to make the game official, with the fear that weather might end the game early. But after a short delay, they managed to play the full seven innings, with the Express winning, 4-3.
The original game had been scheduled for June 12, in Eau Claire, but due to scheduling conflicts, had to be made up in Mankato. This meant, for the night game only, the MoonDogs would be the “visiting” team in their own park.
Once again, the MoonDogs jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the first inning off of Express starter, Luke Eldred. The scoring started when Alvaro Rubalcaba came home on a fielder’s choice. CJ Schaeffer singled home Toby Hanson to make the score 2-0. The Express added a run of their own in the bottom of the second inning, after Luke Bandy scored on a groundout by Dominic Clementi.
Despite the rain continuing to pour, both teams continued to mount rallies. The MoonDogs scored their third run of the game in the fourth inning, when Wells Davis knocked in Ryan Kriedler, giving the “visiting team” a 3-1 lead. But the Express answered in the bottom of the fifth inning with three runs of their own off of MoonDogs pitcher, Austin Bollinger, thanks in part to Kyle Marinconz driving in two runs with a single.
After the Express took the lead, the umpires immediately called for a rain delay, while the MoonDogs staff and players worked to make the field playable again. Fifteen minutes later, the players were back on the field and play resumed.
MoonDogs starter Austin Bollinger took the loss, working five complete innings, giving up four earned runs, while striking out two and walking one. Left-hander Matt Young pitched a perfect sixth inning in relief. The MoonDogs bats were a little quieter in the night game, managing only five singles, including two from Toby Hanson.
The MoonDogs fall to 15-16 with the loss, and will play the Express again tomorrow at 7:05.
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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.