St. Cloud Rox Punch Postseason Ticket

(KNSI) – The Rox are headed back to the playoffs!

The team swept a doubleheader on Sunday and again on Tuesday to ensure a spot in the 2024 Northwoods League postseason. Tuesday really mattered, as it put space between them and Mankato. The MoonDogs were nipping at the Rox’s collective heels before the teams met in southern Minnesota.

The finals were 5-0 and 5-1. St. Cloud got 4.2 scoreless from Piercen McElyea in Game One. In Game Two, starter Phil Brennaman allowed one in 3.1 innings, but the true fireworks were from reliever Ryan Rushing. He mowed through eight batters, striking out six of them.

Offensively, Jackson Hauge and Noah Greise drove in runs in both games against Mankato. In Game One, St. Cloud scored in the first, third, sixth, and seventh innings, tacking on runs to ensure the steady pitching held up. In Game Two, every Rox run came in the first.

St. Cloud is now 40-25 on the year and will end the regular season with four games against Willmar. They’re home on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The Stingers are also in the running for a league championship, but they’ve known that for a while. Willmar had the best record in the Great Plains – West in the first half, locking up a playoff bid.

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