MINOT, N.D. – The Mankato MoonDogs wrapped up their two-game series against the Minot Hot Tots on Wednesday night at Corbett Field, earning a 14-7 victory.
Mankato jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Tanner Kern (University of San Diego) delivered an RBI double as the MoonDogs plated two runs to take a 2-0 advantage.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second before the MoonDogs broke the game open with three runs in the third, extending their lead to 5-0.
Mankato continued its offensive surge in the fourth, adding three more runs. Liam Ebbs (Wofford College) highlighted the inning with a two-run RBI double, pushing the MoonDogs’ lead to 8-0.
The Hot Tots responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to trim the deficit to 8-4.
The MoonDogs were held scoreless in the fifth, while Minot added two more runs to make it an 8-6 game.
Mankato answered in the sixth with two runs. Josey Williamson (University of Alabama) scored during the inning, and another MoonDogs run crossed the plate on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 10-6.
Neither team scored in the seventh inning.
The MoonDogs added four insurance runs in the eighth. Two runs scored on a Minot error before Max Charles (Grand Canyon University) capped off the inning with a two-run home run, stretching Mankato’s lead to 14-6.
Minot scored once in the bottom of the ninth, but the MoonDogs closed out the 14-7 victory.
Mankato returns to action Thursday as it travels to Rochester to open a series against the Honkers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
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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).