MoonDogs Split Series with Larks After 9-4 Win Wednesday

The MoonDogs used a four-run seventh and two-run eighth to carry a 9-4 lead through the end to extinguish a three-game losing streak with the win to moving the MoonDogs to a 6-4 record in 2021.

Will Hanafan (Creighton) scored the first run with a bloop single to center before a throwing error by the Larks pitcher allowed another run to score on the play. In the next at bat, Matt Higgins (Bellarmine) continued the surge with a single up the middle that scored another run and gave the MoonDogs a 3-0 lead in the second inning.

The Larks then scored four unanswered runs with one in the fifth and three in the top of the seventh to take a one-run lead. However, after stretching time in Mankato, the MoonDogs took back the lead with a four-run bottom of the seventh that saw Kole Kaler (Hawaii), Dustin Demeter (Hawaii) and Jack Costello (San Diego) each hit RBI singles to put Mankakto out in front 7-4.

The MoonDogs extended their lead to 9-4 in the eighth with a pair of insurance runs before Peyton Jones (Cal State Fullerton) shut the door in the ninth to complete a two-inning save.

Mankato outhit Bismarck 11-5 despite having one more error than the opposition, 2-1.

On the mound for the MoonDogs, right-handed pitcher Jarret Krzyzanowski (Nova Southeastern) threw five frames of one-run (zero earned) baseball, Wednesday at ISG Field. Krzyzanowski allowed just one hit and hit one batter while striking out six in his second start of the summer. In relief, John Lundgren (North Alabama) pitched a scoreless sixth inning where he allowed one hit, walked one and struck out two. The win went to Mankato’s James Shimashita (San Jose State), who is now 1-0 this season, after he pitched in the top of the seventh for Mankato. Jones worked the eighth and ninth to secure his first save of the season. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out three.

For the Larks, the loss went to Nate Boyle (0-1) after he gave up five hits and four runs in the seventh inning.

Up next, the Mankato MoonDogs start a home-and-home series with the Willmar Stingers (7-3), Thursday at 7:05 p.m. in Willmar, Minn.

-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.