MANKATO-Minn. Brett Synek and Dalton DeLeon blasted a pair of home runs in the second inning as the MoonDogs went on to win 10-5 on Sunday night at Franklin Rogers Park against the Willmar Stingers.

Coming into the night three games behind the Waterloo Bucks for first place in the second half division standings, the MoonDogs were desperate for a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive and with a 9-8 loss from the Waterloo Bucks, they move to just a pair of games back with six games remaining in the regular season.

The MoonDogs came out with a rough start, giving up four runs in the top of the first which chased starting pitcher Brandon Zywicki from the game. Mankato got a run back in the bottom of the inning and then exploded for four in the second. Ridge Smith led off with a single and Dalton DeLeon slammed a home run to left field to put the MoonDogs within a run. Then Brett Synek homered, bringing in himself as well as Tyler Sullivan who reached on a single to center field.

Willmar tied the game at five in the fifth but the MoonDogs were able to take a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth as Patrick Massoni hit a sacrifice to bring in Dalton DeLeon from third. The MoonDogs added some much needed insurance in the bottom of the eighth, batting around the order, drawing three walks, and putting up three RBI singles.

Jacob Westerhouse got the win for the MoonDogs, pitching two innings of relief and giving up just a single hit. Andrew Towns took the loss for the Stingers.

The MoonDogs will be back on the field tomorrow night against the Willmar Stingers for the third game of a four game set. The game will be played at Bill Taunton Stadium with first pitch at 7:05pm. Fans can listen to the game live on AM1230 The Fan Mankato with the radio voice of the MoonDogs Josh Horton.

The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel.  For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com.

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