Mankato, MN – Landon Stephens (Miami Ohio) went 3-4 at the plate and scored a run but St. Cloud (29-32) fell in game one of the doubleheader to Mankato, 5-2. It was the final time the teams would play at Franklin Rogers Park in the regular season. The two teams will complete the doubleheader at the Rock Pile on Wednesday evening.

The MoonDogs threatened early in the game, loading the bases with no outs in the first inning. After a sac-fly RBI from Kyle MacDonald and a quick defensive out, Ryan Weisenberg (Georgetown) turned a 4-3 double play to get the Rox out of the jam.

St. Cloud tied the game in the fourth inning, when a throwing error at first base allowed Weisenberg to score from second base. They would leave runners on the corners to end the inning.

Mankato reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, bringing four runs home. The Rox tacked on a run in the ninth inning as Hance Smith (California) singled to center field, scoring Stephens.

Kyle Richardson (Texas A&M) started the game and hurled 5.2 innings, striking out eight batters, which is a season high. Sergio Esparza (Arkansas at Pine Bluff) tossed the final 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit.

St. Cloud will look to split the doubleheader on Wednesday night at the Rock Pile. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05. It is Polka Night, presented by 1150 KASM.

The Rox are in their seventh season of Northwoods League Baseball in 2018. Single game and group tickets for the entire season are on sale now. For more information on purchasing tickets, visit the Rox Ticket Office on the west end of the Municipal Athletic Complex, call 320-240-9798 or visit www.stcloudrox.com.

The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods 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 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR).  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.

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