The Mankato MoonDogs started the second half on the right foot with a 7-5 victory over the first half champion Willmar Stingers on Wednesday night at Bill Taunton Stadium in Willmar.

Levi Scott, who was also named Northwoods League Player of the Night, led the MoonDogs with two doubles and four RBI en route to the MoonDogs victory.

The MoonDogs fell to an early 1-0 deficit, but used great plate discipline to load the bases for Scott who roped his first double of the game, clearing the bases and giving the MoonDogs the 3-1 lead heading to the bottom of the third.

Mankato opened its biggest lead of the game with a three-run fifth inning led by a two-run double off the bat of Tanner Rockwell. Tyler Sullivan also score on a wild pitch in the inning to inflate the MoonDogs lead to 6-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth.

Willmar answered with a three-run inning of its own and then added another run in the bottom of the sixth to tighten the MoonDogs lead to just 6-5 after six innings of play.

Scott picked up his final RBI of the night, doubling in Brett Synek and capping the MoonDogs scoring at 7-5, where the game would end.

Blake Battenfield was solid in 4.1 innings on the bump, allowing four runs and striking out three. Alex Hackerott was credited with the win with 2.2 scoreless innings of relief and one strikeout. Tyler Mark picked up his fifth save with two strikeouts and a perfect bottom of the ninth.

Matt Snyder suffered the loss for the Stingers, allowing six runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out one and walked four. Brantley Claunch tossed two scoreless innings in relief for the Stingers.

With the win the MoonDogs improve to 1-0 in the first half, while the Stingers fell to 0-1. The two teams will meet again on Thursday night at Franklin Rogers Park at 7:05 p.m.