By Connor Wachtel
Willmar, Minn. – The MoonDogs dropped game two of their four-game series with the Stingers 5-2 last night in Willmar. Early scoring in the first frame was no match for the Stingers pitching staff as more struggles continued for Mankato’s offense the rest of the way.
BOX SCORE: Willmar 5, Mankato 2
The MoonDogs wasted no time following Tuesday’s scoreless season-opening game effort, by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning to obtain their first lead of the season at 2-0. Peter Brookshaw (North Dakota State) found himself on base after an error. He then stole second base to find himself in scoring position. Ben Rowdon (Gardner-Webb University) hit a single to drive in Brookshaw for the season’s first run. After a balk, Rowdon found himself in scoring position for Tyler Casagrande who advanced Rowdon to third on a fly ball. Rowdon came in for the MoonDogs second run when Sky-Lar Culver (Arkansas State) claimed an RBI single.
In the bottom of the second the Stingers answered back, cutting the lead in half with Jacob Trousdale (Alabama) driving in Brock Anderson (North Dakota State).
Willmar followed up their run with another to even the score at two in the third inning. Patrick Bordewick (Concordia St. Paul) drove in the run with a single to score Anderson for his second run of the game.
In the fourth, the Stingers slapped another RBI single to up their lead to 3-2. This time it was off the bat of Justin King (Alabama), scoring Daniel Walsh (Sacramento City College).
The Stingers upped their run total to five when Jacob Trousdale recorded another RBI single. Following that up was Kenny Saenz (Sacramento City College), who would reach on an error that would also score Walsh for his second run scored of the game. The Stingers defense and pitching would avail in the following three innings, holding the MoonDogs to a 5-2 deficit for the final score.
Player Notables:
Leading the MoonDogs charge on offense was Culver going 1-3 with an RBI and a walk.
Earning the win was Polo Portela (Cumberland University) who went 6.2 innings, allowing four hits and an earned run aside from six strikeouts and a walk. John Bezdicek (Southwest Minnesota State) came in for relief work and struck out six batters while only allowing a hit in 2.1 innings to shut the door on the 5-2 win.
Nick Schmidt (Missouri State) was given the loss for his five innings of work in which he surrendered three runs, five hits, a pair of walks and two strikeouts.
Due up for the Dogs
The MoonDogs will be back at The Frank to host Willmar tonight in game three of this week’s home and home four-game series with the Stingers. Today’s game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Franklin Rogers Park in Mankato, Minn.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 25-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, 225 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), World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS) and MLB All-Stars Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (MIA). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the MoonDogs as your favorite team.