Eau Claire, WI — Nate Jones took the mound for the Mankato MoonDogs who were looking to get back in the win column against the Eau Claire Express, winners of their last six. Jones would retire 14 straight Express en route to his third win of the season by a score of 7-3 on Saturday night at Carson Park. 

Nate Jones (Northwestern State) notched his third win of the season against the Eau Claire Express on Saturday, but not without some turbulance. In Jones' first inning of work, two runs crossed home plate to allow Eau Claire out to an early 2-0 lead. That would be as far as the right-handed freshman would allow the express to go. Rudy Rott grounded out to second base, and that started the shut-down performance by Jones. When the dust settled, Jones had retired 14 straight in the blink of an eye.

Eau Claire would hold onto the lead, despite being held at bay until the top of the fifth. With two outs, David Metzgar (Cal State Bakersfield) single home Jordan Kozicky (Minnesota). Jordan Washam (LA Tech) followed with a single that scored Jake Shepski (Notre Dame) to give the MoonDogs a 3-2 lead.

Mankato would add four more runs, including a solo home run by Jordan Kozicky during the sixth. Nate Jones improved to 3-0 on the season with the win, while Eau Claire's Austin Schulfer (Milwaukee) suffered his first loss of the season, dropping to 1-1.  The MoonDogs and Express will wrap up their two-game set as they send Reece Eddins (0-0) to the mound for his first start of the year. He will face Eau Claire's Brody Rodning (1-1) at 5:05 PM at Carson Park.

###

The Northwood’s League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The
 23-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable
training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 150 Northwood’s League players
have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and
MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM)
and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable via the Northwood’s League website. For more
 information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com

The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwood’s League. Playing its 23nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwood’s League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 150 Northwood’s League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwood’s League Website. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com