In the longest home game in Mankato this season, the Bismarck Larks held off the MoonDogs and the weather to win 15-9.
The Larks got things started right away with six quick runs in the top of the first inning, putting the MoonDogs at a huge disadvantage before ever stepping into the batter’s box.
Two more runs would come across in the third for the Larks to extend the lead to 8-0, but then the MoonDogs made things interesting. Three runs in the bottom half of the inning cut the Lark lead to 8-3. Four more in the fourth made it a one-run game.
The momentum had shifted in favor of the MoonDogs, and it peaked in the bottom of the fifth as the home team tied the game at eight.
But there was much more baseball to be played. The Larks came alive once again, scoring two runs in the sixth, three in the seventh, and two more in the eighth. By the time they were done, Bismarck was sitting comfortably with a 15-9 lead.
During this stretch, however, two rain delays paused the game for about an additional hour. Once back on the field, the two teams continued to put men on base, but the final score would remain 15-9 in favor of the Larks.
The MoonDogs will stay home at ISG Field for four more games of their current six-game homestand, taking on the Waterloo Bucks Thursday at 6:35.
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.
