ROCHESTER —
The Mankato MoonDogs decided to play some long ball against the Rochester Honkers Thursday and the result was a 14-2 Northwoods League baseball triumph.
Nick Ratajczak, Chase Simpson, Craig Massoni and J.M. Twitchell each smacked home runs to lead the Dogs' 12-hit attack. Ratajczak also walked four times and finished with four RBIs.
Simpson was 2 for 4 with four more RBIs and Twitchell drove in a pair of runs. Chad Christensen also had two hits for Mankato.
Patrick Goelz pitched the first 5 1/3 innings to get the win. He scattered four hits, walked three, struck out six and gave up one run. Trey Nielsen and Kyle Turner finished up.
Thursday's game followed a 10-7 loss to the same Honkers team on Wednesday. That game did not begin until 9 p.m. due to a rain delay and ended at 12:12 a.m. when Rochester broke a 7-7 tie with a three-run 10th inning.
Matt Marsh took the loss in relief, allowing five earned runs on five hits over 2 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two. Seth Webster pitched the first 5 2/3 innings.
Twitchell, Massoni and Cody Ferrell hit back-to-back home runs to lead the Mankato attack. Twitchell also singled and doubled and knocked in three runs.
Mankato (8-7 in second half, 36-14 overall) continues its extended road trip today with a 7:05 p.m. game at the Duluth Huskies.
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