MANKATO, MINN. — The Mankato MoonDogs opened their series against the Badlands Big Sticks with a 7-3 loss Monday night at ISG Field.
Badlands jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning.
After a scoreless second inning, the Big Sticks added two more runs in the third to extend their advantage to 4-0. Neither team scored in the fourth or fifth before Badlands plated two runs in the sixth, building a 6-0 lead.
The MoonDogs were held off the scoreboard until the eighth inning when Justin Rompre (Iowa Western Community College) launched a solo home run to put Mankato on the board. The Big Sticks answered with a run in the same inning to make it 7-1.
Mankato added two more runs in the bottom of the ninth. Tanner Kern (University of San Diego) scored, followed by Max Charles (Grand Canyon University), who crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
The late rally was not enough, however, as the Big Sticks secured the 7-3 victory.
The MoonDogs return to ISG Field on Tuesday, June 9, for the second game of the series against Badlands. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
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