Rox Win Behind Arm of Schaak

Published on June 4, 2012 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
St. Cloud Rox News Release

ST CLOUD-The Rox rode a stellar performance from starting pitcher Paul Schaak (Eastern Michigan) to victory on Sunday night at Joe Faber Field. St. Cloud defeated the Mankato MoonDogs 6-1 to snap the MoonDogs' season opening four game winning streak.

Schaak, a 6'2" right-hander from Manitoba, lasted seven innings to earn the victory for the Rox (2-3). He gave up only three hits (two singles and a double), struck out one and walked none. His defense played well behind him as well, committing only a single error after a rough start to the season with the mitts.

The Rox were led at the plate by third baseman Nick Rau (Georgia Southern), who went 3-4 with a double and a run scored. Shortstop Mark Rhine (Wake Forest) was also 3-4 while adding a pair of RBIs.

St. Cloud got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning, which Rau led off with a double. Chris Paul (California) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move up the runner and the small-ball paid off when Rau scampered home on Phil Imholte's (St. Cloud State) groundout.

Rau again sparked a Rox rally in the bottom of the fifth by leading off the inning with a single. Paul followed with a single of his own which advanced Rau to second base.

An RBI single by Andy Henkemeyer (Minnesota) scored Rau to provide the eventual winning run. A Rhine triple cleared the bases and gave the Rox a 4-0 lead after five innings.

St. Cloud topped off their scoring by plating a pair in the bottom of the sixth inning. Erik Kozel (Colorado-Mesa) tripled to score Patrick Gamblin (Winthrop), then Kozel scored on a Paul sacrifice fly.

The Rox hit the road for games Monday and Tuesday against the Waterloo Bucks before coming back home on Wednesday for a matchup with Alexandria. The hump day contest is also Inaugural Season Team Poster Night presented by Rengel Printing and Zaffiro's Pizzeria at Parkwood. Visit www.stcloudrox.com for tickets.

Northwoods League Stories from June 4, 2012

• Five-Run Fourth Propels Stingers to First Victory, 9-5 - Willmar Stingers
• Mallards Lose 4-3 in 11 Innings against Rafters, Suffer First Home Setback - Madison Mallards
• Bucks Streak Hits Six with Win over Rox - St. Cloud Rox
• Woodchucks Win in Walk off Fashion over La Crosse Loggers - Wausau Woodchucks
• Honkers win streak ends at three - Rochester Honkers
• Bullfrogs top Bombers in Extras - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
• Lakeshore Chinooks Lose Home Opener 2-1 - Lakeshore Chinooks
• Bucks Sign Gunner Johnson to Temporary Contract - Waterloo Bucks
• Beetles Fall for Third Straight Time - Alexandria Beetles
• Duluth Huskies Game on as Scheduled - Duluth Huskies
• McClain Named Young Plumbing and Heating Player of the Week - Waterloo Bucks
• Mallards Return to "Duck Pond" to Take on Rafters - Madison Mallards
• Sale, Smyly and Calhoun on Short List from 2010 Draft - Northwoods
• Inaugural Pondamonium Scheduled for August 9, 2012 at the Warner Park "Duck Pond" - Madison Mallards
• Rox Win Behind Arm of Schaak - St. Cloud Rox

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