The Mankato MoonDogs, for a third time the season, waited a long time before pulling away from the Minot Hot Tots on their way to a 16-1 win.
Hot Tot pitcher CJ Hanson continued his run of spectacular starts on the mound. Hanson went five innings allowing two runs and striking out seven. He only had one inning with trouble, walking the bases loaded in the third and then bringing in a run on a wild pitch.
Even with CJ’s nice start, the Hot Tots were trailing when he was pulled in the sixth. Minot batters could not figure out Mankato’s left-handed starter Caleb Koskie. The freshman from Indiana University struck out 11 in just five innings while surrendering just one run.
Not long after the Hot Tots brought in the bullpen did Mankato pull further ahead. Four walks in the inning, as well as four stolen bases and a few timely hits moved the MoonDogs around the bases for five runs. But they weren’t done in that sixth inning, Evan Saunders came up to hit with two on and a new pitcher in the game. He took the first pitch for a ride, hitting his second home run of the season and changing the score to 10-1 MoonDogs.
A lot of the same took place in the seventh for Mankato including yet another Evan Saunders three-run blast.
The Hot Tots were unable to piece together any more runs against MoonDog relievers and the game finished 16-1 in favor of Mankato.
CJ Hanson was the SportClips MVP, Minot reliever Austin Puett’s 93 mph heater registered as the SRT Fastest Pitch. Will Smoot was once again credited with the First Command Play of the Game, saving an out at first base. By night’s end the Hot Tots had drawn five Buffalo Wild Wings Walks.
The series against Mankato wraps up on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 pm.t
