DICKINSON, N.D. – The MoonDogs traveled to North Dakota for the first of a two game series against the Badlands Big Sticks.
Badlands scored first, capitalizing off of a two run homerun in the first inning to go up 2-0.
A scoreless second inning led into a run for Mankato. They scored on an RBI double by Josey Williamson (University of Alabama), cutting the score to 2-1.
In the fourth, the MoonDogs followed it up with a sacrifice fly score, as well as Kyle Hvidsten (Liberty University) and Noah Libed (UC Santa Barbara) scoring on back to back plays. They overtook the lead 4-2.
The dominance continued in the seventh, with Sean Griggs (Monmouth University) scoring off of an RBI single from Williamson. They scored another run to go up 6-2 over the Big Sticks.
Despite a solo homerun late in the ninth for the Big Sticks, Mankato ran away with the victory in a final score of 6-3.
The MoonDogs return to action tomorrow night, as they will take on the Big Sticks again at Dakota Community Bank and Trust Ballpark. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm MST.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in developing elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history 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 410 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 (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford 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, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (NYM).