Duluth, MN — There was one. Then another. And another. And another one after that.

The Rox (24-11) flexed their muscle early Monday night scoring 5 runs in the first 2 innings, on their way to claim sole possession of 1st place. They never looked back thanks to Carlo Graffeo (2-1) (Southeastern Louisiana) and the Rox staff who did not allow an earned run in an 8-2 triumph. With one game left in the 1st half of the regular season, the Rox can clinch a playoff spot with a win tomorrow or loss by the Bucks.

Matt Tarantino (Pacific) started the rally in the 1st after Cameron Eden (Cal) and Mason Mamarella (Kent State) reached safely to start the game after a double and a single, respectively. Tarantino took it from there and smacked a double to Left-centerfield to drive in the two on base.

It was just the 2nd of 5 extra base hits in the 1st and 2nd innings. Later in the 1st, Daniel Schneemann (BYU) continued the early run with an RBI double to bring in Tarantino. In the 2nd, they continued their strong start. The Rox hit another double with their leadoff man Michael Busch (North Carolina). Eden brought him home and scored himself after Mamarella grounded out.

The bats were silent until the 6th, but Graffeo kept the Huskies at bay, giving up just 5 hits. The bullpen which consisted of Kyle Boser (St. Cloud State), John Matthews (Kent State) and Joe Calamita (Bethune-Cookman) continued the early trend and kept Duluth off the board. 

St. Cloud plays its third and final game in Duluth tomorrow to wrap up the 1st half. It is important to know if it loses and Waterloo wins, then the Bucks would win the tiebreaker. After that the Rox head to Rochester for one game at Mayo Field Wednesday night. We return home on Thursday in a home game versus the Honkers. There will be a Rox replica jersey giveaway presented by Coborn's, Times Media and 104.7 KCLD to the 1st 400 kids 14 and under in attendance.

Tonight's Box Score.

Northwoods League Standings.

Monday's St. Cloud Times Player of the Game is Cameron Eden. He started the game with a double on the 3rd pitch, and later drove in a run. He also scored twice in the win.

The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two- time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). 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 or on Google Play and set the Rox as your favorite team.