The Mankato MoonDogs picked up their fifth victory in a row on Thursday night, as they
downed the division-leading St. Cloud Rox at Joe Faber Field by a score of 5-2.
The game started with three scoreless half innings, before the game was stopped due to heavy
rain and thunderstorms for over two hours. However the game would resume, and three more
half-innings were set down without any runs.
The scoring opened on the Mankato side in the fourth inning, as Kai Roberts (Utah) took
advantage of a 3-1 count, and drilled a fastball into left field to plate a pair of MoonDogs and
make the score 2-0.
Mack Crowley (MSU-Mankato) got the start for the MoonDogs, and despite having to wait
through a long rain delay after an inning, would work three more innings, stranding five on base
in four innings without allowing a run and striking out three.
The Rox added a run in the fifth inning, but Mankato would hit back in the sixth. Back-to-back
triples by Asher Bradd (Illinois) and Roberts would plate Bradd to begin the inning, with Roberts
scoring on a sacrifice fly by Kip Fougerousse (Evansville) just a few moments later. Then, Max
Williams (Florida State) smacked a home run to left field, his fifth of the season, to make the
score 5-1 after six innings.
R.J Elmore dominated out of the bullpen, tossing four innings to close out the game, where St.
Cloud only managed a lone run against him. He also struck out three batters on the night en route
to earning the save,
Mankato did leave 14 on base, including 11 in scoring position but were able to overcome it.
Louis Magers picked up the win, his first as a MoonDog while the loss went to Brady Posch. The
teams go back at it on Friday night with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch.
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. Now in its’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 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 325 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 2019/2021 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 and on ESPN+. 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 Rockers as your favorite team.
