(7/8/06) The Alexandria Beetles got just enough clutch hitting to squeeze past the Mankato MoonDogs on Saturday night, earning a series split with a 2-1 win.

The Beetles scored both of their runs with two outs, tallying a run on a Danny Worth double in the third inning, and another on a Lucas Duda single in the eighth to score what would prove to be the winning run.

Mankato rallied in the bottom of the eighth, when Ryan Manthei led off with a pinch-hit single. One out later, Tim Smith singled to right to advance pinch-runner Chris Rodriguez to third, and Chris Henault followed with a chopper past third baseman Jermaine Curtis to score Rodriguez. Shane Buschini came to the plate with the tying run in scoring position, but his hard grounder up the middle was snagged by pitcher Brandon Rapoza, who whirled to second to start an inning-ending double play.

Dan Klous pitched well in taking the loss, going eight innings and scattering seven hits while allowing two runs. Klous struck out eight batters and issued just one walk.

Tim Smith, who earlier in the day was named to the Northwoods League All-Star team, started as the leadoff man for the second straight night and went 2-for-4.

Bryan Woodall went 7.1 innings for the Beetles to earn his second win of the season, and Matt Chambless pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up his seventh save.