St. Cloud, MN – The St. Cloud Rox fell to the Mankato MoonDogs 9-2 in game one of Tuesday’s doubleheader before delivering a victory in St. Cloud in game two by a score of 3-2 at Joe Faber Field. The split is the second time the teams have done so in the past nine days as the Rox now sit at 4-4 in the second half and 23-20 overall.

In game one, the Rox were only able to muster three hits on a pair of MoonDogs pitchers as Mankato rallied for 18 hits in the contest to pick up the victory. Tim Faix made the start on the mound for the Rox, going 4.1 innings while allowing eight runs and striking out three to pick up the loss (1-2). The relief effort was dually taken on by Chad Hockin and Trevor Jaunich, who combined to throw the final 3.2 innings for the Rox while allowing just one run in the process.

Boo Vazquez delivered a solo home run in the first inning for the Rox in game one and Clay Ardeeser hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to score Liam Bedford and give the Rox their final run of the game. Vazquez finished the first game 2-for-4, including his third home run of the season as Mitchell Kranson tallied the only other hit of the game.

In game two, the Rox pitching staff did battle with the MoonDogs as the two squads were neck-and-neck throughout the game, beginning with Rox starter Will Craig, who threw the first 5.1 innings while giving up an unearned run and four hits in that span. He was relieved by Tyler Peitzmeier in the sixth, who came in for the next 2.2 innings and struck out two while giving up a run and eventually earning the win (2-0).

The first two runs of the second game came across in the fourth inning for the Rox off a two-RBI single down the left field line from Harrison Wenson to score Chris Paul and Kade Scivicque and give the Rox a one-run lead after four. The MoonDogs tied the game in the seventh inning with a run off Peitzmeier, but the Rox secured the winner in the eighth inning off another RBI-single from Wenson, who beat out a throw to first base with two outs to score Scivicque and give the Rox a 3-2 lead.

Dalton Sawyer came in for the ninth for the Rox and ended the game on a 1-6-3 double play to give him his third save of the year and the Rox their fourth victory in five games.

Today’s box score from game one can be found at

http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=210501 and game two at

http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=210502.

The Rox will now end their home stand tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. as they conclude the series with the Mankato MoonDogs at Joe Faber Field. Tomorrow night will be Guns and Hoses Night, presented by Firehouse Subs, as Rox players will be wearing special jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game with proceeds going to the Public Safety Foundation.

Single game tickets can be purchased 24 hours a day at www.stcloudrox.com, by calling (320) 240-9798 or by visiting the Rox ticket office located at the Municipal Athletic Complex.

For more coverage of the Rox, visit www.sctimes.com.