WHEN: Thursday August 1^st, 6:35 PM

WHERE: ISG Field

WATCH: Northwoods League TV

LISTEN: Granite City Sports 1390AM/93.9FM

ROX 2024 RECORD: 36-23 (18-8 SECOND HALF)

MANKATO 2024 RECORD: 33-27 (16-11 SECOND HALF)

2024 STATS COMPARISON

ST. CLOUD SLUGGING SPREE

Throughout this stretch in the last two weeks, the Rox have an 11-2 record and have proven two things. How good they are at getting on base (9^th in the NWL), and how good they are at making you regret putting people on base via slugging (4^th in NWL). Over the Rox last ten games dating back to July 18, St. Cloud is sporting a team batting average of .313 and have launched 14 home runs over those contests. The charge is being led by Ben Higdon and Jackson Hauge who each have three long balls over the last ten games. Higdon’s three long balls have all occurred over the last four games. Noah Greise has added two since he joined the team last week, Braden Calise has added one and it happened to be a grand slam. Carter Hanson returned to the lineup last night against Badlands and recorded his first home run since July 10.

CRUCIAL STRETCH

Beginning today, The St. Cloud Rox have only ten games remaining in the 2024 regular season. Eight of those games are against Willmar and Mankato, the two teams that trail the Rox in the Great Plains West division. The Rox sit with a 2.0 game lead on Willmar for first place and Mankato sits in third 2.5 games back of St. Cloud. Of those eight games, four of them are at home at the rockpile where the Rox are 21-8, and four of them are on the road where St. Cloud has a record of 15-15.

PROBABLE STARTERS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

STC- Dallin Harrison is slated to toe the slab for the Rox in Mankato tonight. Harrison comes into tonight sporting the lowest ERA on the team (Minimum 30 innings) at 1.17. The Gilbert Arizona native has struck out 27 batsmen across his innings this season and has not allowed more than two runs in an appearance this season. Harrison has also fielded his position well recording three putouts, five assists and turning one double play. St. Cloud is 6-1 in games that Harrison makes an appearance.

MAN- Joe Skapinetz is making the start for Mankato in tonight’s contest. This season across five games, Skapinetz has pitched in 16.2 innings and has allowed 31 baserunners across those innings. Skapinetz has an ERA of 8.10 this season for Mankato and has walked nine with 16 strikeouts and has accumulated a WHIP of 1.86.