Mankato, MN — After two losses to the La Crosse Loggers, Rochester needed a good series against the Mankato MoonDogs to stay in the thick of the playoff hunt in the Great Plains West division.

Unfortunately, the MoonDogs are another team vying for that playoff spot and they got four runs in the fourth inning and six in the fifth to crack the game wide open and cruise to an 11-3 win against the Honkers.

Marc Bisogno (Fordham) got his first start of the season and he rewarded Manager Thomas Walker’s decision to start him by retiring three of the first four batters he faced.

Mankato scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning when Dayton Dooney hit an RBI single scoring Tyler Casagrande from third base.

After MoonDogs’ stater Brett Newberg retired the side in the top of the third, Bisogno bounced back in the bottom half of the inning by once again retiring three of the four batters he faced.

Mankato made their lead 2-0 when Michael Perez hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Following two quick outs, the MoonDogs doubled their lead when Cuba Bess hit a two-run single.

Bess scored the fourth run in the inning and fifth run overall when he scored on a wild pitch.

Newberg continued to roll in the top of the fifth inning when retired the side for the second time.

Micah Wallette (Golden West College) came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth. Despite the fresh arm, Mankato’s offense continued their momentum when Micahel Perez hit a two-run single.

MoonDog shortstop Nick Novak made their lead 8-0 with an RBI single. Adan Fernandez scored the next run by drawing a bases-loaded walk.

Adam Fjerstad (Bethany Lutheran) came in to pitch for Rochester, but Josh Elvir drew another walk to make the score 10-0. Mankato’s last run of the fifth came when Sean Ross hit an RBI single.

The Honkers finally got on the board in the top of the sixth inning when Andy Armstrong (Dallas Baptist) hit a double, stole third base, and scored when Ryan Wrobleski (Dallas Baptist) hit an RBI single.

After a scoreless seventh inning, Rochester trimmed Mankato’s lead to eight, 11-3, thanks to a two-run homer by Wrobleski.

That’s as close as the Flock would get as MoonDog reliever Jake Moberg threw a scoreless ninth inning.

The 11-3 loss dropped the Honkers’ second half record to 10-10 and their overall record to 28-27.

Ryan Wrobleski was honored as the Profile Sanford Player of the Game for knocking all three of Rochester’s runs.

The Flock continue their road series against the MoonDogs on Friday, July 26, at 7:05 p.m.