Grafton, WI – Eric Schenck-Joblinske had a two-hit, two-run effort for Mankato, but Lakeshore would take the first game of a two game set at Kapco Park in 11 innings by a final score of 5-4 on Thursday evening.

The Mankato MoonDogs (15-15) came back to Lakeshore looking for a rematch of last season’s Summer Collegiate World Series, and ended up playing in a great game. The Lakeshore Chinook’s (17-2) Zarley Zalewski hit a sacrifice fly to left field that would allow the walk-off run to score from third base, giving the Chinooks the win.

Lakeshore was down headed into the bottom of the 9^th 4-5, when Zalewski saved the day for the first time in the game with an RBI double that tied it up with two outs. Zalewski finished the night 1-for-5 with two RBIs.

Mankato had been close, but hadn’t led all game long until the 8^th inning. After scoring  runs in the 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th the MoonDogs finally got their go-ahead run in that 8^th inning from a David Metzgar sacrifice fly that scored Hunter Mercado-Hood to make the score 4-3.

Jake Tuttle (1-0) picked up his first win of the year in relief for the Chinooks, pitching 3.0 innings of hitless shutout baseball. Sam Myers (2-2) was charged with his second loss of the season in a game where he made his 12^th appearance of the season, which leads the team. Myers was on the bump for both the tying and winning runs, but allowed just two runs one three hits over three innings.

Mankato will play game two against Lakeshore Friday evening at Kapco Park looking for a series split. First pitch is at 6:35. The Chinooks will visit Franklin Rogers Park in late July this season.

“The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website."