The Mankato MoonDogs saw their two game winning streak snapped by the Rochester Honkers 10-4 Friday.
The MoonDogs had beaten the Honkers the prior five times the teams played, but were at the mercy of the Honkers Friday night. After starting the game thirty minutes late due to excessive rain, the MoonDogs could not stop the hot bats of Rochester.
The Honkers scored four runs in the first inning, placing Mankato in an early hole. After Nick Novak (Angelo State) drove in two runs in the third, the MoonDogs narrowed the deficit to one run. This marked the closest the MoonDougs came to catching the Honkers.
In the bottom of the third, the first grand slam of the season given up by MoonDogs pitching chased starter Jon Ludwig (Minnesota State) from the game.
From there, the Honkers hit two more solo homeruns in the fourth inning, finishing their scoring for the game. The MoonDogs added one run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning from Kyle MacDonald (Arkansas State), but did not get any further.
Ryan Duffy (Minnesota), one of three relievers used Friday, pitched three scoreless frames, allowing just two base runners while striking out one.
RJ Teijeiro (UCLA) and Jake Shepski (Xavier) were bright spots for the MoonDogs offense, with Teijeiro plating a run while waking twice, chipping in two hits, while Shepski collected two base hits and a walk.
The MoonDogs face Rochester for the third time in as many days Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 PM CST.