Mankato, Minnesota—Coming into the day the Mankato MoonDogs trailed the St. Cloud Rox by just a half game for the North Division lead as they took on the Battle Creek Bombers at Franklin Rogers Park.
It would take eleven innings, but the MoonDogs would eventually defeat the Bombers 6-5 to keep pace with the Rox who also won tonight.
With the bases loaded and two out in the 11th, Gavin Wehby came to the plate and ripped one up the middle to end the game and give Mankato their second walk-off win in three days.
Mankato would strike early, with leadoff man David Metzgar banging a double to ignite the offense, Jake Shepski would then drive him in with a triple to right field the next at-bat. The MoonDogs would ultimately score three runs in the first frame.
They would extend their lead to five in the third when Jordan Washam stepped to the plate and crushed a ball over the right-field fence for his fourth homerun of the year and second in as many days.
The Bombers would slowly creep back into this one with three in the fifth inning, one more in the seventh and their fifth and final run coming in the eighth to tie it.
Starter Josh Matheson would exit in the fifth, allowing three runs in 4.2 innings pitched, striking out three on four hits.
A combination of Cooper Powell, Charlie Skantze, Kevin Yarabinec, Sean Terres and Cody O’Brien out of the ‘pen for Mankato would allow just two runs over 6.1 innings of relief, striking out a combined 11 Bombers.
The MoonDogs will be back at The Frank tomorrow night to wrap up their series against the Bombers, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the gates, in their office at 1221 Caledonia St., or online at www.mankatomoondogs.com
###
The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visitwww.mankatomoondogs.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the MoonDogs as your favorite team.
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 22-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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 150 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store.