Brainerd, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs scored eight unanswered runs to defeat the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers, 10-6 in a come-from-behind win Tuesday night at Stewart C. Mills Field.
Sam Selman (Vanderbilt) took the mound for the MoonDogs with high expectations Tuesday night, and actually was off to a nice start, facing just three batters in the first inning. The MoonDogs imploded defensively in the second inning, giving up five runs while committing four errors. Selman was never able to fully regroup, lasting just four innings, allowing six runs (one earned) on four hits.
With two outs in the sixth inning, and the MoonDogs trailing 6-2, the rally began. Cody Ferrell (Seminole State) and Sam Lind (Vanderbilt) reached base on back-to-back singles, putting runners at first and second for Steve Nyisztor (Rutgers) who crushed a bases clearing triple (1) into the right field gap, scoring two. The MoonDogs would add another run in the seventh, but still trailed 6-5 heading into the eighth inning. With two on and two out, Matt Reida (Kentucky) blasted a three-run home run (1) over the right field wall, giving Mankato an 8-6 lead. The MoonDogs would add two more in the ninth, winning 10-6.
Steven Rice (Vanderbilt) earned his second victory of the summer, tossing 1 1/3 innings of shutout baseball. New-comer Joel Pulliam (Central, IA) pitched two scoreless innings for the MoonDogs in his season debut. Patrick Goelz (Bethune-Cookman) picked up his sixth save of the summer, pitching the final inning and a third.
The MoonDogs have now won six-straight games, their second longest streak of the summer.
The MoonDogs and Lunkers wrap up their season series Wednesday night, with Blake Schwartz (Minnesota St., Mankato) taking the mound in search of his seventh win. Mankato continues their nine game, eight day road trip, before heading back home for a pivotal two game series against the first place, Alexandria Beetles starting August 7 at Franklin Rogers Park. Tickets for any of the MoonDogs remaining home games are now on sale at the MoonDogs office located at 1221 Caledonia Street. For more information visit our website at www.mankatomoondogs.com or call the MoonDogs office at 507-625-7047.
