A very nice win for your MoonDogs tonight downing the Larks 9-1!
An unbelievable pitching performance from Mankato’s Peter Michael (Northwestern) set the stage for a big win.
Michael went 6 ⅔ innings allowing just 2 hits 0 runs and had 8 K’s. He allowed zero extra base hits in those 2 batters.
This game was all defense through the 6th inning with the only run scoring on a Riley Jackson (Florida State) solo home run in the 5th.
Jackson after a slow start to his time in Mankato has really turned it on lately helping this MoonDogs team out of the basement to start the second half to within a game of first place.
The 7th changed the game for Mankato.
8 runs were scored, with 4 MoonDog batters gathering RBI’s this inning.
After a leadoff line out, Coleman Mizell (Alabama) ripped a double into the left canter gap setting up the whole inning for Mankato. Ty Rumsey (Evansville) would come in to pinch run and would immediately score on an RBI single from Matthew Fleischhacker (MSU – Mankato).
The MoonDogs hot hitting continued with Jake Duer (TCU) up next as he also hit a double into the gap scoring Fleischhacker on a close play at the plate.
Later in the inning Nico Libed (San Diego) would have an RBI single and the inning would be capped off on a bases clearing double from Ty Rumsey to put this game way out of reach for Bismarck.
The one and only relief arm for Mankato tonight was Tyler Vargas (Sac City) who threw well going 2 ⅓ innings allowing just one run and earning the save.
Mankato will face off again against Bismarck to finish out their series before facing Willmar.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Entering its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 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 350 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 two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network. Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play