St. Cloud, Minn. – Another strong outing from Dan Metzdorf (Boston College) and an offensive outburst in the fifth inning gave the St. Cloud Rox (12-6, 36-17) a 5-2 victory over the Rockford Rivets (10-9, 27-28) on Thursday night at Joe Faber Field.

Metzdorf followed up his six inning scoreless performance outing from July 21 with a 6.1 inning outing against the Rivets. He allowed one run on six hits and struck out seven batters in the game. It was the most strikeouts he has recorded in a game this season.

The Rivets first run would come early, as they tagged Metzdorf in the second inning. That would last until the fifth inning where the Rox claimed the lead.

The rally in the fifth started with a one-out walk from Ricky Ramirez (McNeese State). Luke Ringhofer (South Dakota State) followed with a double, putting runners on second and third for Michael Strem (Boston College) who singled home Ramirez. Denis Karas (Cal Berkeley) would also single, bringing in Ringhofer and Brett Pope (Western Carolina) lifted a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right field to deliver the third run of the inning.

St. Cloud would add another run in the sixth inning, with Mason Mamarella (Kent State), Mark Skonieczny (Illinois) and Ramirez all collecting singles.

The final Rox run of the game would come in the seventh. Mamarella’s third hit of the night allowed Pope to score. The Rivets catcher would throw down to second trying to catch Mamarella, and Drew Freedman (Nova Southeastern) attempted to come home on the throw, but was thrown out to end the inning.

Robbie Palkert (Nebraska) logged 1.2 innings in relief, not allowing an earned run and striking out two batters. It was the fourth straight game in which Palkert has not allowed an earn run. Brian Glowicki (Minnesota) came on in the ninth and continued his stretch of dominance. He worked a perfect inning with two strikeouts. Glowicki has not allowed a run or a walk in his 12 innings of work this season.

The win keeps the Rox at the top of the standings for both the second half and overall in the North Division. They hold a half game lead over the Mankato MoonDogs in the second half race, and a game lead over the Willmar Stingers, whose game had not concluded when the Rox game finished. St. Cloud also remains in possession of the best record in the Northwoods League.

The Rox and Rivets will meet once again on Friday at the Rock Pile. It is Christmas in July presented by D.B. Searle’s. Santa at the ballpark! Christmas presents will be given away all game long and one lucky fan will win a party for 50 people at D.B. Searle’s. There will also be Friday Night Fireworks presented by Kwik Trip.

Tonight’s St. Cloud Times Player of the Game was Dan Metzdorf following his fantastic pitching performance. For more coverage of the Rox during the 2016 season visit www.sctimes.com.

For more stats and information about the game, here is the boxscore.

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 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 or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.