Pwinca-Worms' big hits help Lunkers collar MoonDogs

MANKATO - Will Pwinca-Worms gave the Lunkers their first lead with a two-run single in the second inning and then added an insurance run with an RBI single in the eighth as the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers spilt a road series against the Mankato MoonDogs with a 4-2 win Sunday.

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After a MoonDog two-run home run in the sixth off Lunker reliever Matt Mullendore tied the game Mike Gedman drove in the winning run in the eighth that preceded Pwinca-Worms' RBI single. Gedman finished the game 2-for-5 with two runs while Pwinca-Worms went 2-4 with three RBIs.

Five Brainerd pitchers combined to shut down the Mankato offensive as the MoonDogs collected just three hits while striking out eight times.

Mats Mattson collected the win pitching a perfect bottom of the seventh that saw him strike out the side.

Mike Frongello came in relief of Mattson to pick up his second save of the season with two solid innings.

The Lunkers improve to 9-7 in the second half with the series split and will travel back to Mills Field after the Northwoods League All-Star break to start a two game series with the St. Cloud River Bats Thursday.

Brainerd 020 000 020 - 4 10 1

Mankato 000 002 000 - 2 3 2

Brainerd: Dennis O'Grady, Brian Garman, Matt Mullendore, Mats Mattson, Mike Frongello and Hunter Nolen

Mankato: Bennett Whitmore, Tony Manville, Zach Whitman and Xorge Carrillo

WP: Mattson (1-1). LP: Manville (2-1). Sv: Frongello (2).

2B: Brd-T.J. Berge, Michael Kvasnicka

HR: Man-Cody Fick

SB: Brd-Justin Gominsky; Man-Jimmy Patterson, Taylor Black

RBIs: Brd-Will Pwinca-Worms 3, Michael Gedman; Man-Fick 2

LOB: Brd 12, Man 9

T: 2:35

A: 1251

Records: Brd 9-7, Man 9-8

Next: Northwoods League All-Star Game at Thunder Bay Tuesday.

Saturday's game

MANKATO - A run in the seventh and two in the eighth lifted the Mankato MoonDogs past the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers 7-4 Saturday.

Justin Gominsky finished 3-5 with a run and an RBI for the Lunkers to move his season average to .308. T.J. Berge and Mike Kvasnicka each went 2-5 with a double and Nate Hammes and Shon Roe added two hits each.

Mike Gedman pitched the first 6 2/3 innings. He struck out four, walked three and allowed six hits and five runs, but just one was earned as Brainerd committed four errors.

Saturday's game

Brainerd 001 201 000 - 4 14 4

Mankato 004 000 120 - 7 8 3

Brainerd: Mike Gedman, Bret Severtson (7), Joey Van Cleave (8) and Nate Hammes

Mankato: Jacob Petricka, Chris Garrison (5), Alex Burgos (6), John Brebbia (8) and Kyle Knudson

WP: Burgos (2-2). LP: Gedman (3-2). Sv: Brebbia.

2B: Brd-T.J. Berge, Mike Kvasnicka; Man-Brian Haar, Tony Strazzara

RBIs: Brd-Berge, Justin Gominsky, Zack Stewart; Man-AJ Patterson 2, Ryan Durant, Haar, Strazzara

SB: Brd-Gominsky; Man-Strazzara

LOB: Brd 11, Man 6

T: 2:49

A: 1,537