Duluth, Minn.- The Mankato MoonDogs ended their five game road trip on a high note, defeating the Duluth Huskies Sunday night, 5-3 at Wade Stadium.
Down 3-0 in the 6th, MoonDogs designated hitter Craig Massoni (Chabot) blasted his team leading 8th homerun of the year, a two run shot, to put the MoonDogs on board. Still trailing 3-2 going into the 9th inning, the Dog’s pieced together three runs on three hits off of Duluth’s closer Nate Carter (Louisiana Tech).
Chad Christensen (Nebraska) lead off the inning with a double, and later scored on an Audi Afenir (Palomar CC) RBI single tying the game at 3-3. Afenir advanced to third on a David Andriese (UC-Riverside) double, and later scored on a Cody Ferrell sac-fly, giving Mankato a 4-3 lead. Andriese would score the final run on a Carter throwing error to give the ‘Dogs the 5-3 lead.
Closer Patrick Goelz (Oklahoma City) earned his Northwoods League leading 14th save of the season retiring the Huskies in order to secure the win.
Starter Boomer Scarborough (Southern Miss) pitched well, but did not factor in the decision Sunday night. Scarborough battled through 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits, walking 1 and striking out 2 Huskies batters.
Matt Marsh (College of Central Florida) picked up the win in relief, allowing no runs on 1 hit, while striking out 3 batters over 3 innings.
The MoonDogs wrap up their 5 game road trip with a 3-2 record and are now 38-15 overall this season.
The Dogs will have the next three days off, during the 2012 Northwoods League all-star break,, but will be back at Franklin Rogers Park Thursday July 26th vs the Alexandria Beetles.
Thursdays game will be Farm and Food night at the Frank. The first 500 fans receive a Reusable Shopping Bag. Fans will also have the chance to win $100 worth of food from Hilltop Meat Market courtesy of Blue Earth County Farm Bureau, Corn and Soybean Growers and their check offs along with Minnesota 93.
Season and single game tickets are on sale at the MoonDogs ticket office located at 1221 Caledonia Street. For more information, visit our website at www.mankatomoondogs.com or call the ticket office at 507-625-7047.