A back and forth game in Mankato tonight ended with your MoonDogs falling to Willmar 12-8.
Nathan Culley (MSU – Mankato) started on the mound for Mankato throwing 2 innings, allowing 4 runs with just one strikeout.
Willmar started off the game hot, scoring 2 runs in the top of the first but Mankato fought back in the bottom of the first scoring 1 on a Coleman Mizell (University of Alabama) RBI single.
Willmar would score again in the 3rd extending their lead to 5-1.
Peter Michael (Northwestern) came in relief for Mankato throwing the most innings of any MoonDogs arm tonight working through 3 innings allowing 2 runs with 6 K’s.
Willmar scored 2 more in the top of the fifth making it a 7-1 game.
Mankato would match Willmar in the 5th also scoring 2 runs on a solo home run from Carter Vrabel (Tennessee Tech) and Cooper Neville (GCU) scoring on a passed ball.
Willmar scored 3 more in the 6th on a 3 run home run.
Mankato refused to let this game get away from them, however, scoring another 2 runs in the 6th on a few costly errors from Willmar.
Willmar scored 1 run in the 7th and the 8th putting them up 12-5.
Mankato tried to make a push in the 9th from a bases clearing double from Riley Jackson (Florida State) to make it a 12-8 game.
These two teams will face off tomorrow night again where Mankato will have an opportunity to split the series.
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