MANKATO-Minn. The Mankato MoonDogs earned a 4-0 shutout of the Willmar Stingers on Wednesday night at Franklin Rogers Park, keeping their playoff hopes alive and earning their second shutout in a row.
The MoonDogs got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning, scoring a run on a Tyler Sullivan leadoff home run, his first of the season. Dillon Williams was brilliant on the mound for the MoonDogs going 6.2 innings and allowing zero runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Then the MoonDogs would add some insurance to the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh when Patrick Massoni found solid wood with one out, putting a double down the left field line. Tyler Sullivan followed with a single to center field, scoring Massoni and giving the Dogs a 2-0 lead.
Tanner Rockwell came on to pitch in relief for Mankato and was lights out, going the final 2.1 innings and allowing zero runs on zero hits with zero walks and a strikeout. Meanwhile the MoonDogs added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. The inning started with the MoonDogs getting a runner aboard with a walk. Later, Brent Zimmerman reached on a single and Craig Lepre drove in two with a single to left field, giving the MoonDogs a 4-0 lead.
Rockwell put a Stinger aboard in the ninth with two outs when he hit Max Ayoub with a pitch but they were unable to take advantage as second baseman Frankie Rios who flew out lazily to center field to end the game.
With the win the MoonDog improve to 18-14 in the second half north division standings and remain a game and a half behind the division leading Waterloo Bucks in the playoff race. Waterloo won on Wednesday night 6-3 against the Thunder Bay Border Cats. The Willmar Stingers drop to 21-17 and are now tied with Mankato for second place in the division.
The MoonDogs are back in action tomorrow night against the Rochester Honkers (16-17) at Franklin Rogers Park with first pitch at 7:05pm. Fans can listen to the game live on AM1230 The Fan with the voice of the MoonDogs Josh Horton. If you’re coming to the game, Dueling Duo’s will be on hand to entertain fans throughout the evening. The MoonDogs have four games remaining in the regular season schedule. They need to finish in first place in the second half division standing in order to make the playoffs.
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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