Duluth, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs lost a heartbreaker to the Duluth Huskies 4-3 Tuesday night at Wade Stadium.

With the game tied going into the eight inning, Cody Ferrell (Seminole State) dropped a suicide squeeze bunt down the third base line, scoring Matt Reida (Kentucky) to give the MoonDogs a 2-1 lead. Two batters later Zach Borenstein (Eastern Illinois) scored on a wild pitched, extending Mankato’s lead to 3-1.

The Huskies managed to score one run of their own in the eighth inning, but still trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Ethan Opsahl (Dakota Wesleyan) came back out to start his third inning of relief work for the MoonDogs, retiring the first two batters easily. After a Tyler Palmer (Florida) single, Mike Bisenius (Scottsdale CC) hit a soft grounder to second baseman Matt Reida that nearly ended the game, but shortstop Evan Frazar (Galveston) couldn’t handle the relay, allowing both runners to reach safely. Chris Manship (Kansas) tied the game up on the very next at bat with a blooper into left field scoring Palmer from second. Three pitches later the game was over as Adam Humes (Northwood CC) laced a line drive passed the diving Zak Wasserman (Louisville) at first base, knocking in the game winning run.

Opsahl (0-1) was tabbed with the unfortunate loss, but pitched well in relief for the MoonDogs, throwing 2 1/3 innings out of the bullpen, allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out three. Starting pitcher Blake Schwartz (MSU) allowed just one run on nine hits, striking out four batters, while throwing 110 pitches, picking up the no-decision.

The MoonDogs wrap up the three game series at 12:05 Wednesday afternoon in the first day game of the 2011 season. Matt Mazzoni (1-0) gets the start for Mankato as they look to rebound after last night’s tough loss.