The MoonDogs would head to Canada for the first time in a few years ready to get back in the winning ways after dropping a close one in St. Cloud.
Kai Roberts would not take long to get things going with a triple deep into center field. Max Williams would take sole possession of league leader in doubles as he would drive Roberts in for the first run of the game. Brody Harding would get the final run of the inning across the plate with a single.
Max Hansmann would take the mound for the MoonDogs for his first game since getting pushed around by the first half champion Stingers. The Border Cats would take a page out of the Stingers play book and push Hansmann and the Dogs infield around pushing 3 across the plate before Orlando Salinas would make a leaping 6-4 double play.
The Border Cats would not be slowed down as they entered the second inning. The MoonDogs would not be able to respond going three up three down. The Cats would pile on more runs scoring two runs before Hansmann would be pulled from the game for Caleb Guisewite to get the final out of the inning.
The MoonDogs would start the third inning out getting the bases loaded with some walks. James Agabedis would get the first hit of the inning scoring two and pulling the MoonDogs within one. Asher Bradd would keep It going scoring two more with a single taking the lead for the first time since early in the first inning.
Guisewite would keep the door shut on the Border Cats giving the MoonDogs a scoreless inning.
The fourth inning would start out quick with Ari Armas getting on with a walk before Williams singled. Dustin Crenshaw would go for a walk while Harding would sac fly for the second out of the inning scoring Armas. Salinas would join the club becoming the seventh MoonDogs to walk in the game third of the inning.
Agabedis would chase the Border Cat pitcher from the game with a two RBI single giving the MoonDogs their largest lead of the game. Roberts would keep his hot streak going with a deep double scoring two more before the inning would come to an end.
The MoonDogs would find themselves in a jam in the bottom of the fourth until a solid 6-4-3 double play would clean it up leaving a bases loaded opportunity for the Cats wasted.
Brevin Goetz would start the inning for the MoonDogs and would slowly find himself in the same position Guisewite and the MoonDog fielders were in the previous inning. The MoonDogs would luck out with a double play ball being hit to close out the inning with a 4-6-3 to put out the fire.
The MoonDogs would be held off the board for the second inning in a row. Goetz would hit the first two batters of the inning pushing the MoonDogs to go to the pen. Luke McCollough would come in and finish the inning for the MoonDogs giving up two.
The MoonDogs would strike again in the eighth inning when Roberts would hit his second extra base hit of the game sending Agabedis who reached on an E3. Armas would record his first hit of the game sending Bradd in and Roberts to third. Williams would hit into a double play allowing Roberts to get across the plate and give the Dogs their biggest lead of the night.
Grant Garza would come in to end the game for the MoonDogs allowing one run for a final score of 15-9.
The same two teams will meet again for the final time of the season tomorrow at 12:35 P.M.
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.
