MANKATO, MN—The MoonDogs hosted the Willmar Stingers at Franklin Rogers Park tonight in their home opener. The MoonDogs came into the game with a perfect 5-0 record while the visiting Stingers came in with a 2-4 mark on the young season.
Gabe Constantine (0-1) got the nod for the MoonDogs while the Stingers sent out Corey Binger (1-1) as their starter. The game marked the first start and second appearance for Constantine who pitched a scoreless inning v. Rochester earlier in the season.
The Stingers took the early lead in the first scoring one, only to have the MoonDogs answer back with one of their own in the bottom of the frame. The Stingers weren’t fazed, however, and managed to plate two more in the second and then again in the fifth. The MoonDogs were also able to score in the fourth, with Jake Shepski picking up the RBI, his team-leading eighth of the season.
The MoonDogs had a major scoring opportunity in the eighth inning when third basemen Ridge Smith reached on a passed ball after striking out while Marcus Pingleton came in to score from third to make it a one run game. A walk to Bryce Adams loaded the bases with two outs, but the MoonDogs were unable to complete the rally in the eighth and ended the inning trailing by one.
The Stingers got the run right back in ninth, however, after a single and an error in right by Chase Hamilton allowed Billy Quirke to come around from first to add some insurance to the Stingers lead. The MoonDogs went down in short order in the ninth to drop their first game of the season.
Three defensive errors from the MoonDogs doomed the team as the Stingers were able to score six runs on just as many hits.
The MoonDogs will now travel to Willmar to take on the Stingers at their home: Bill Taunton Stadium. The MoonDogs will be back at home on Wednesday for a double header vs. the Rochester Honkers. The first game will begin at 6:05 p.m. Season and single game tickets are now on sale, call 507-625-7047 or visit the MoonDogs’ office at 1221 Caledonia Street in Mankato for more information.
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The Northwood’s League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 23-year old summer collegiate 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 150 Northwood’s 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable via the Northwood’s League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com
The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwood’s League. Playing its 23nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwood’s 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 150 Northwood’s 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwood’s League Website. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com
