Early rally downs Blue Anchors in season opener

Published on May 28, 2014 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Alexandria, Minn. - The Alexandria Blue Anchors fell to the Mankato MoonDogs Tuesday night by a score of 3-0 at Knute Nelson Memorial Park. The opening night loss gives the Anchors' a record of 0-1.

Zach Muckenhirn got the opening day nod for the Blue Anchors and the lefty gave up a base hit to Tyler Sullivan to start the ballgame. After Sullivan stole second, Muckenhirn struck out Justin Fletcher. Sullivan then went to third on a wild pitch and came around to score on a two-out single by Spencer O'Neil giving Mankato an early 1-0 lead.

In the second inning, on a 3-1 offering from Muckenhirn, Ridge Smith lined a ball over the left-centerfield fence to extend the MoonDogs lead to 2-0.

David Petrino started the third off with a double and went to third on a wild pitch. With one out, O'Neil hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to bring home Petrino and Mankato padded their lead making the score 3-0.

The Blue Anchors put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh against MoonDogs reliever Cord Cockrell. Ben Allen, Ryan Busch and Justin Schall all collected base hits to load the bases with two outs but Roman Collins struck out to strand the runners.

Muckenhirn's night ended after three innings giving up five hits and three earned runs while punching out three batters. Andrew Thome came on in the fourth and pitched four scoreless innings allowing just three base runners and he struck out seven. Ryan Froom gave up a leadoff triple to start the eighth but stranded him and retired the next six batters he faced including two strikeouts.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game - Andrew Thome (RHP) - The University of North Dakota north paw provided the Anchors with four solid innings of work and set a record for most strikeouts in a single game by an Alexandria reliever.

Notes: Tuesday's game was the first time the Anchors have been shutout at the Shipyard...Offensively, Ryan Busch lead the team with three hits...Ben Allen has a four-game hit streak dating back to the 2013 season...Seven of the Anchors' starters collected a hit...Alexandria pitchers did not issue a free pass...The Anchors outhit the MoonDogs 12-9...The Blue Anchors go back to work Wednesday wrapping up the series against the MoonDogs in Mankato...The projected starter is Jason Zgardowski (0-0, 0.00)...The game, starting at 7:05 p.m., can be seen live at www.youtube.com/user/NorthwoodsLeague.

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