Photo captured by Dylan Engel (Mankato MoonDogs)
Written by: Connor Wachtel
MANKATO, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs got back into the win column with a 13-4 victory over the Waterloo Bucks in a Northwoods League baseball game, Thursday night at ISG Field.
With the win, the MoonDogs improved to 3-1 to start the season while the Bucks fell to 1-3 on the summer.
After the Bucks opened the game with one run courtesy of Kaleb Knox (Nebraska Wesleyan) hitting a sacrifice fly to right in the top half of the first inning. the MoonDogs piled on four runs with four hits and help from a Bucks’ error in the bottom half of the inning.
Sean Ross (Indiana State) grounded out to drive in Luke Napleton (Quincy University) for the first run to tie the game in the bottom of the first inning. Orlando Salinas (Kansas State) put a ball in play that was botched by the Waterloo second baseman, which allowed Kai Roberts (Utah) to score from third. Then, after Noah Greise (Nebraska Omaha) grounded out to drive in Nick Altermatt (Minnesota State), Davis Crane (Bellarmine) singled to score Salinas. After one inning of play, the MoonDogs led the Bucks 4-1.
Once the Bucks scored another pair of runs in the fourth, the MoonDogs responded by doubling them up with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Altermatt walked in the first run of the bottom half, which stood as the eventual game-winning run. Then, in the fifth frame, Mankato slammed Waterloo with another four-run inning that made it a 12-3 ballgame.
Scoring wrapped up with Waterloo and Mankato each trading a run in the eighth inning. From that point on, the MoonDogs held it there for a nine-run victory by a 13-4 margin.
Picking up his first win of the season in his first appearance on the hill for Mankato was right-handed pitcher Drew Buhr (Bellarmine). Buhr pitched five complete innings of three-run (one earned) baseball with five hits against. He walked one Buck batter and struck out four others.
Logan Runde (Iowa Western CC) fell to 0-1 on the season in the loss after pitching three innings and surrendering four runs (two earned).
Mankato outhit Waterloo 11-7 in Thursday’s affair. The MoonDogs came down with two errors to the Bucks’ lone miscue in the ballgame.
Up next, the MoonDogs hit the road for the first time this season, making stops in La Crosse Friday and Saturday for a pair of 6:35 p.m. first pitches at Copeland Park before making one more pit stop at St. Cloud, Sunday at 4:05 p.m., to wrap up the three-game road stretch.
-DOGS-
The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 28th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 280 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the MoonDogs as your favorite team.
