Pender Shocks Rox, MoonDogs Salvage Split of Doubleheader

After the MoonDogs dropped game one, 8-7, in 10 innings, MoonDogs All-Star right-handed pitcher Nolan Pender (Bellarmine) shocked the Rox by pitching eight shutout innings for a win to move to 5-1 in 2021. Pender held the Rox to just a pair of hits while walking one and striking out five along the way.

Offensively, Adrian Torres (Grand Canyon) supplied two RBI while Matt Higgins (Bellarmine) and Austin Garrett (Kansas State) garnered the other two respectively.

Riley Cornelio (Texas Christian) came down with the loss to fall to 1-2 after he pitched five frames, allowing one hit and one run with three walks and nine strikeouts in the outing.

The MoonDogs hit the road until the All-Star break begins, July 19, for a four-game road trip. Up first, the MoonDogs take on the Express from the friendly confines of Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wis., Thursday and Friday 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.