The Mankato MoonDogs defeated the Willmar Stingers in walk off fashion 4-3. Jake Shepski (Xavier) drove in Austin Bull (Grand Canyon) with a double that rolled to the left field wall to give the MoonDogs their 12thwin of the year.
A blown lead in the ninth only allowed for a dramatic flair for the Mankato MoonDogs, who improved to 2-3 in extra inning games this year. Brandon Pfaadt (Bellarmine) allowed the tying run to score before loading the bases with two outs. Pfaadt forced a fly out of the next batter, allowing the Dogs a chance to walk off in the ninth.
Mankato went down in order in the ninth, bringing in Jordan Jackson (Nevada) for the tenth. Jackson worked a perfect inning of relief, setting up the MoonDogs to win once again.
Austin Bull worked a leadoff walk on five pitches, setting the stage for the three year veteran and 2016 Northwoods League MVP Shepski.
Shepski, after getting ahead in the count, crushed a hanging breaking ball to left field, allowing Bull to score the winning run, giving the Dogs their second extra innings win.
Jarrod Wright (Southern Mississippi) started the game for the MoonDogs, allowing two runs, five hits, and walking two in six and two thirds innings. Wright did not factor into the decision.
Elsewhere for Mankato, Kyle MacDonald (Arkansas State) slugged his 21stRBI of the season, extending his lead over the rest of the Northwoods League.
The MoonDogs travel to Willmar tomorrow, facing off against the Stingers for the second game in the two game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05/7:05 Eastern Time, with probable pitchers to be announced.
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The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit https://northwoodsleague.com/mankato-moondogs/ or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the MoonDogs as your favorite team.
