By: Connor Wachtel

MANKATO, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs (18-8) won their fourth straight game 7-3 over the La Crosse Loggers (12-16) to conclude their first-half home schedule with a 15-1 record, Sunday at ISG Field. 

 

The MoonDogs scored three runs in the fourth to grab the first lead before scoring twice in the fifth and sixth to add insurance to the lead. The Loggers scored three times with one run in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings. 

Matt Higgins (Bellarmine), who went 2-4 with a triple and two RBI, was the MoonDogs’ Hilton Garden Inn Player of the Game while Cole Andavolgyi (UNLV) also supplied a hot stick, launching his third home run of the season for a pair of RBI in the sixth inning. Luke Beckstein (Kansas State) hit his first home run of the summer, a solo shot to left in the fifth, which extended the lead.

Mankato doubled up La Crosse in hits 10-5 on Sunday. Each side had one error in the contest. 

After MoonDogs starting pitcher Jonathan Clark (San Jose State) worked one perfect inning to open the game, Kolby Gartner (St. Thomas) assumed the mound in relief where he went on to throw four scoreless innings allowing just one hit. He walked and struck out three along the way while working for the win to move to 1-0 in 2021. 

 

The loss went to Loggers’ starting pitcher Cameron Robinson, who now sits on a 1-1 record this season, after working in 4.2 innings and surrendering five runs (three earned) on eight hits. He struck out two MoonDogs hitters during his outing. 

 

The MoonDogs and Loggers series now heads to Copeland Park in La Crosse, Wis., Monday and Tuesday with the first pitch for each contest slated for 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.