Mankato, MN – The bullpen was in impressive form all night as the Rox picked up a 3-2 victory over the Mankato MoonDogs at Franklin Rogers Park. This is the 9^th win for the club in their last 11 games. Collin Strall (LSU) was a catalyst out of the bullpen with 3 shutout innings in relief. This includes striking out the Northwoods League’s leading hitting heading Jake Shepski (Notre Dame) to end the 6^th inning with runners at second and third.

The MoonDogs left 12 runners on base and that includes 6 through the first two innings. Rox RHP starter Jake Stevenson (Minnesota) dealt with traffic all day on the base paths. He only lasted 3 innings and walked 7 batters. However, Stevenson limited the damage and operated out of two bases loaded jams in the first and second innings.

Offense was difficult to discover in the game for St. Cloud. Brendan Illies (UNC) hit a cue shot tapper to the first baseman who attempted to underhand flip the ball to the pitcher covering. RHP starter for Mankato Ricky Digrugilliers dropped the ball and Webb Bobo scored. Rox led 1-0 after two innings.

Mankato responded in the 4^th inning with a two-run single from Jake Shepski and the MoonDogs took a 2-1 lead. Luke Ringhofer (South Dakota State) connected with an RBI single in the 5^th inning to square the game up at 2. Brendan Illies’ RBI groundout in the 6^th inning proved to be the difference in the contest as the Rox took a 3-2 and did not surrender it the rest of the way.

Robbie Palkert (Nebraska) was brought into the game in the 9^th and earned the save but it was a little tough. With one out, Palkert fielded a bunt and slipped overthrowing the ball past the first baseman Illies. Palkert buckled down and retired the next two batters to pick up the save.

The Rox are back in action Friday night with a game against Mankato. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and the Rox Solid Pregame Warmup starts at 6:35 p.m. RHP Matt Shannon (Angelo State) will start for St. Cloud.

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.

The St. Cloud Times Player of the Game is Collin Strall. Strall tossed three innings out of the bullpen.

The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.stcloudrox.com

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