The Mankato MoonDogs ended their longest losing streak of the season on Friday, and were looking to build on that confidence in Saturday’s rematch with the La Crosse Loggers.  Another solid outing on the mound allowed the MoonDogs to do just that, winning for the second consecutive night, 8-0.

Like they have done numerous times before, the MoonDogs took a quick lead right away in the first inning.  Daniel Amaral singled to start the bottom of the first, advanced to second and third base on a groundout and single, respectively, and ultimately came in to score when Ethan Valdez reached on an error.

After the first inning, both starting pitchers took turns trading zeros.  Neither allowed an earned run for the rest of their outings.  Unfortunately for Loggers starter Garrett Christman, he left the game down 2-0, after surrendering an unearned run in the fifth.  To make matters worse for the Loggers, they weren’t having any luck against MoonDogs starter Tyler Lesley.  It wasn’t until he pitched his eighth scoreless inning that Lesley finally came out of the game.  He finished his night with eleven strikeouts and one walk, while only giving up five hits.

But even with a superb performance from their pitcher, the home team was only up two runs.  That all changed in the bottom of the eighth inning, when the MoonDogs used two hits, two walks, a hit-by-pitch, and three Loggers errors to put six runs on the board and give themselves an 8-0 lead heading into the final inning.

Right fielder Jake Shepski pitched the ninth inning for the MoonDogs, using twelve pitches to retire the Loggers in order and clinch the game for his team.  Shepski was also the lone MoonDog to record two hits at the plate, adding an RBI as well.  Valdez and Ryan Kreidler had the other two RBIs for the MoonDogs, who improve to 19-11 with their win.  They will stay home for a two-game series with the Duluth Huskies, starting Monday at 7:05.