Mankato, MINN. – The Mankato MoonDogs defeated the St. Cloud Rox 11-8 Tuesday night at ISG Field.
After St. Cloud took a 3-1 lead in the third inning, the MoonDogs responded with six runs in the bottom of the inning to take control of the game.
Kyle Hvidsten (Liberty University) delivered the biggest hit of the inning with a three-run home run, his fifth of the season. Sam Erickson (Lamar University) added a two-run home run later in the game, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Mankato added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to extend its lead to 9-3. Mikey Valdivia (Minnesota State University) tripled and drove in a run, while Marvin Montenegro (Florida State Univeresity) finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
The Rox made a push in the seventh, scoring five runs to cut the MoonDogs’ lead to three. Mankato’s bullpen shut the door from there, with Blake Gordon (Palomar CC) throwing the final two scoreless innings to earn the save.
Aidan Byrd (Missouri Southern State) picked up the win after allowing three runs over five innings. He struck out one and walked four.
The MoonDogs finished with nine hits, including two each from Hvidsten, Erickson and Montenegro.
The MoonDogs will face the Rox again in St. Cloud tomorrow night and the first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm.
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