Photo Captured by Dylan Engel (Mankato MoonDogs)
Written by Connor Wachtel
MANKATO, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs dropped the opening game of a home-and-home series against the Willmar Stingers, 8-1, Sunday evening at ISG Field.
The loss dropped the MoonDogs record to 21-18 overall with a 2-3 mark in the second-half standings. The Stingers are now 3-2 in the second half while sporting a 24-15 overall record.
Willmar cracked the score column first in Sunday’s contest by scoring runs in the third and fourth frames. The eventual game-winning run came in the top of the fourth inning when Will Busch (North Dakota State) scored from second on a wild pitch. After reaching third on the errant pitch, Busch dashed home when the ball was jarred loose from the third baseman’s glove on the throw down. As a result, the Stingers carried a 2-0 lead after the fourth inning.
The MoonDogs scored one run in the ballgame during the sixth inning when Simon Scherry (Evansville) grounded out to short, allowing John Newman Jr. (Santa Barbara) to score from third to cut the deficit to 2-1.
It was all Willmar the rest of the way as the Stingers piled on six runs in the seventh to take an 8-1 advantage, which was the final after nine innings of play in the Key City.
Luke Young (Oklahoma State) came down with the loss to finish the summer 2-1 following his last appearance as a MoonDog. He pitched 4.1 innings with five hits and two runs against while walking three and striking out a pair.
The MoonDogs head to Willmar for a 7:05 p.m. finale against the Stingers at Bill Taunton Stadium, Monday night.
-DOGS-
The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 28th season, the Northwoods 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, over 280 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com 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.
