Photo captured by Dylan Engel (Mankato MoonDogs)
Written by: Connor Wachtel
MANKATO, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs shutout the Eau Claire Express, winning 3-0, for a second straight night at ISG Field while pitching a combined one-hitter in a Northwoods League baseball game, Saturday night.
With its second straight victory, Mankato improved to 8-4 on the season and completed a sweep over Eau Claire at home. The Express now stand 7-5 on the season.
Starting on the mound and earning the win after pitching five and a third shutout innings with one hit against was Donovan Schultz (Evansville). Schultz improved to 2-0 on the season in the victory. He walked two opposing hitters and struck out five others along the way. In relief, Corey Sanchez (San Jose State) got a hold and pitched 2.2 innings before Simon Gregersen (Des Moines Area CC) picked up his first save of the summer in the ninth.
Derek Shoen (UMary) drove in the first run during the second inning of Saturday’s contest for the MoonDogs. Shoen’s single to left drove in Sean Ross (Indiana State) and gave the MoonDogs a 1-0 advantage after two innings of play at ISG Field.
In the next inning, Charles McAdoo (San Jose State) launched his first home run of the summer, a solo shot, out to left to make it a 2-0 game. Later in the inning, the MoonDogs’ lead was extended to 3-0 when Ross singled to center to drive in Garrett Williams (Abilene Christian).
https://twitter.com/MankatoMoonDogs/status/1535781742853795840?s=20&t=Zfe8_rHYNxdpRurJDVt76w
En route the loss, the Express only managed to get one hit, a short dribbler near the mound in the fourth, before ultimately being outhit 8-1 in the contest.
Coming down with the loss was Express’ starting arm Jack Brown (Minnesota State – Mankato), he fell to 1-2.
The MoonDogs and Express head to Eau Claire, Wis., for a pair of games at Carson Park, Sunday and Monday. First pitch for Sunday’s ballgame goes out at 2:05 p.m. in Eau Cliare.
-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.