By: Connor Wachtel
Mankato, Minn. — Behind a big fourth inning, the Waterloo Bucks held on to beat the Mankato MoonDogs, 8-4, Thursday.
A Waterloo four-run third propelled them to victory and put an end to the MoonDogs’ two-game winning streak.
The MoonDogs scored first when Dylan Phillips tripled in the opening frame to score his Kansas State teammate, Zach Kokoska.
Mankato grasped the lead until the Bucks’ four-run third. Waterloo got the runs behind five hits and help from a pair of errors. The score was 4-1 Bucks through three innings in Mankato.
Patrick Ferguson slides in to score during the third inning. (Picture captured by Mansoor Ahmad)
The Dogs and Bucks traded runs in the fifth. The bottom half saw MoonDogs left fielder, Zach Gilles, single to score Max Wright.
Charley Hesse embarked on a mad dash around the bases in the eighth to put the Bucks up, 6-2. After the speedy Hesse swiped second, a pair of miscues allowed him to take third and then score simultaneously.
Charley Hesse slides under the tag of MoonDogs shortstop, Evan Berkey, during the eighth inning at Franklin Rogers Park. (Picture captured by Mansoor Ahmad)
In the bottom half of the eighth and into the top of the ninth, the MoonDogs and Bucks took turns each scoring a pair of runs. The score closed out 8-4, where it would ultimately stand and the Bucks won the first game of the series in Mankato.
The box score saw the MoonDogs fall in the hit battle, 14-10, and double up the Bucks in errors with four to Waterloo’s two.
The win went to Waterloo’s starter, Blake Corsentino (3-0), who went six complete innings. He gave up six hits and two runs while walking two and striking out one.
MoonDogs starter, Jared Milch (0-2), got the loss. The southpaw worked through the third, but that was all. He allowed seven hits, four runs and walked one.
For tonight’s box score click HERE.
Tomorrow, the Mankato MoonDogs (12-18) and the Waterloo Bucks (21-10) will go again at 6:35 p.m.
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The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 26th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 230 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. 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.