Alexandria, MN – The St. Cloud Rox were unable to get the big hit off the Alexandria pitching staff Monday night as they fell to the Blue Anchors 5-3 at Knute Nelson Memorial Park. The Rox totaled seven hits in the game through the first seven innings off Alexandria starter Blake Bass, but stranded eight men on base throughout the game as their 2014 record now stands at 12-9.

For the Rox, Austin Caspersen made his third start of the year on the mound, going five innings and allowing five runs on six hits to pick up his first loss of the season (2-1). He was relieved by Tyler Peitzmeier in the sixth inning, who stopped the bleeding for the Rox while allowing three hits in the final three innings and keeping the Blue Anchors off the scoreboard. Peitzmeier has now thrown three innings in both of his appearances this year while not allowing a run and scattering six hits. Bass led Alexandria on the mound, throwing the first 6.1 innings while allowing seven hits and striking out four to earn the victory (1-2).

The Rox recorded all of their runs off Bass Monday night, with the first coming in the second inning off a sacrifice fly from Eric Loxtercamp to score Boo Vazquez, who singled earlier in the inning. The Blue Anchors answered back with three of their own in the third inning off Caspersen, coming off two consecutive RBI groundouts from Aaron Gretz and Rico Sanchez and a solo home run from Ryan Busch to make it 3-1 after five.

St. Cloud brought the game within a run in the sixth inning when Chris Paul led off with a solo home run, his fourth of the year, which ties Clay Ardeeser for the team lead. But the Blue Anchors countered again in the bottom half, this time connecting on back-to-back singles to start the inning, which brought Peitzmeier in to relieve Caspersen in a jam. Peitzmeier then allowed a sacrifice fly to bring in the first run of the inning, and another off a fielder’s choice to give the Blue Anchors a three-run lead.

The Rox got another run back in the seventh inning when Harrison Wenson led off with his fourth double of the season, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly from Loxtercamp for the final run of the game. The Rox had a chance to score in the ninth inning when Kyle Thornell led off with a walk and Wenson was hit by a pitch, but Alexandria reliever Graylon Brown proceeded to retire the next three batters to give the Blue Anchors the victory.

Paul and Vazquez were St. Cloud’s leading hitters in the defeat, as each tallied two hits to bring in over half of the offensive production, while Loxtercamp finished with two RBIs, giving him 11 on the year. Tonight’s box score between the Rox and Blue Anchors can be found athttp://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=210300.

The Rox will now head back to St. Cloud for two consecutive home games, playing the Blue Anchors Tuesday night and the Willmar Stingers Wednesday night with both beginning at 7:05 p.m. at Joe Faber Field. Tuesday is Bark in the Park Night, presented by the Granite City Pet Hospital, with benefits going to the Tri-County Humane Society as the first 250 dogs in to the game will receive a Rox dog dish. Wednesday is Community Spotlight Night, presented by the St. Cloud Times, and fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for the local food shelf and come support the local non-profit organizations.

For more coverage of the Rox visit Sctimes.com