Photo captured by Dylan Engel (Mankato MoonDogs)
Written by Jacob Toepfer
Willmar, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs fell victim of a sweep after losing to the Wilmar Stingers, 5-2, in a Northwoods League baseball game, Monday night at Bill Taunton Stadium.
With the loss, the MoonDogs are now 21-19 overall on the year with a 2-4 second-half mark. Wilmer improved to 25-15 on the season as well as a 4-2 second-half record with the win.
Sean Ross (Indiana State) led the way for the MoonDogs offensively, finishing two-for-four with a walk. John Newman Jr. (Santa Barbara) and Ariel Armas (San Diego) had the only RBI on the night. Among the two Dogs’ hitters, Armas had the multi-hit game, batting one-for-three at the park.
Mankato got roughed up in the bottom of the second inning, which allowed the Stingers to claim a 4-0 lead, which was unreachable for the visiting MoonDogs. After back-to-back singles were allowed, an error allowed the first run of the game to score. With runners on the corners, Nick Terrell (Ripon) hit a sacrifice fly to score a second run. Then a single and fly-out led Joey Walls (Las Vegas) up to the plate with the bases loaded. He knocked in the final two runs of the inning and recorded the eventual game-winning run on a single to make 4-0.
After Mankato scored one run in the top of the fourth and fifth inning, the Stingers tallied on one more in the bottom half of the fifth for good measure. It made it a 5-2 ballgame, where it ultimately stood.
John Lundgren (North Alabama) started in Monday’s game for the MoonDogs and pitched five strong innings with five runs against, only two of which were earned. In addition, he was hit off seven times while walking a pair and recording one strikeout. Thomas Bruss (Augustana) and Jakob Meyer (Evansville) each pitched in relief and held the Stingers to no hits.
The MoonDogs head to North Dakota tomorrow to open a new two-game road series against the Larks at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark at 6:35 p.m.
-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.
