By: Connor Wachtel

MANKATO, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs (3-0) mounted a third-inning, three-run rally and rode it until the end to take the first game of two in a series with the St. Cloud Rox (0-1) 3-1, Wednesday at ISG Field.

 

Now at 3-0 in 2021, Wednesday’s win signaled the MoonDogs best start since the 2016 season, where they started the campaign 5-0.

 

Cole Andavolgyi (Grand Canyon) provided the thump as the MoonDogs’ Player of the Game. His two-run homer in the third was part of a three-run surge with also featured Matthew Higgins driving in another run with a two-out single through the right side. After the third, the MoonDogs led 3-0.

 

The Rox made their way into the score column in the seventh when Tyson Fisher hit a sacrifice fly to left field and scored Justin Kirby. Three innings later, the score ultimately stood at 3-1 as the Dogs continued to boast solid pitching hold the lead.

 

Hits wrapped up 6-3 in favor of Mankato. Neither side had an error in the affair.

 

On the mound, MoonDogs’ returning right-hander Jarret Krzyzanowski (Nova Southeastern) got the start and moved to 1-0. It marked his first outing with the Dogs since the 2020 season. He pitched five innings en route to a one-hit outing where he never surrendered a run. He walked one and struck out five. After improving his record to 1-0 last night, Dalton Mesaris (Western Kentucky) returned to the mound Wednesday night in line for a save and shut the door for Mankato’s first closing appearance of the season.

 

The loss went to Rox right-handed pitcher Johnny Dow (0-1) after he went six innings allowing six hits for three runs and striking out three along the way.

 

Mankato and St. Cloud are back at ISG Field to rematch Thursday at 6:35 p.m.

 

-DOGS-

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’ 27th 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.