Photo captured by Dylan Engel (Mankato MoonDogs)
Written by: Jacob Toepfer
ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The Mankato MoonDogs lost to the St. Cloud Rox, 7-3, in a Northwoods League Baseball Game played at Joe Faber Field, Sunday afternoon.
With the loss, the MoonDogs now stand a game and a half behind the Rox in the Great Plains West Division and own a 5-2 overall record on the young season.
Weston Lombard (San Fransisco) made his first appearance this season for the Dogs as the starting pitcher. He pitched four innings giving up six runs (four earned). He came down with the loss, dropping his record to 0-1.
He was relieved by Simon Gregersen (Indiana State), who made his third appearance on the season. Gregersen was nasty out of the pen, throwing four innings and striking out six batters in the process. He inherited a bases-loaded jam that he worked out of masterfully. He gave up one run, which was not earned to drop his ERA to 1.74 on the season.
The MoonDogs were led offensively by their one, two and three hitters in the lineup; Luke Napleton (Quincy), Garret Williams (Abeline Christian) and Orlando Salinas (Kanas State) all had an RBI a piece.
The St. Cloud Rox had a solid day out of their starter Joesph Battaglia (Southern University and A&M). He picked up the win pitching five innings with seven strikeouts while allowing only two earned runs.
Charlie Condon (Georgia) had a two-run triple in the fifth that put the game out of reach for the Dogs. He finished his day one-for-four with two RBI and a run scored.
The MoonDogs take on the Rox again on Monday night, this time in Mankato at ISG field at 6:35 p.m. The Dogs will throw the staff’s ace in Nolan Pender (Bellarmine). Pender will bring a 1.59 ERA and a 1-0 record to the game Monday night. Hunter Day (Northern Iowa CC) will take the mound for the Rox. He is 1-0 on the season with a 1.50 ERA for St. Cloud.
-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’ 28th 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 280 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 (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist 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 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. 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.