MANKATO — Chase Simpson belted three hits and Adam Mott pitched 72⁄3 solid innings, leading the Mankato MoonDogs to a 12-3 Northwoods League baseball win over the Waterloo Bucks Wednesday at Franklin Rogers Park.
The ‘Dogs took a commanding lead with a four-run fourth inning and then put the game away with a four-run seventh. Kyle Turner led the fourth-inning uprising with a two-run singles. Nick Ratajczak and John Michael Twitchell added RBI base hits.
In the seventh, Twitchell drew a bases-loaded walk and Chad Christensen chipped in with a two-run double. Ratajczak, Christensen and Turner each finished with two hits and two RBIs apiece.
Mott scattered six hits, struck out three and allowed three earned runs without walking batter. Matt Marsh finished up with 11⁄3 innings of shutout relief.
Mikey Ramirez took the loss. Thomas Lindauer led Waterloo with two hits.
The MoonDogs are now 27-7 and have clinched the first half of the North Division in the NWL, guaranteeing them a postseason playoff berth.
Mankato returns to action at 7:05 p.m. tonight with a home game against Thunder Bay.
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