By Connor Wachtel
Mankato, Minn. – The MoonDogs fell to the Stingers tonight at Franklin Rogers Park after a couple of big offensive and error-ridden innings from the Willmar bats. Early season defensive mishaps weighed down the Dogs as they dropped the opener to the Stingers by a 7-0 score.
BOX SCORE: Willmar 5, Mankato 4
Willmar’s Sam Baier scored the game’s first run in the third inning after getting on base via a walk to start the inning. John Trousdale claimed the RBI, knocking in Baier.
The Stingers kept in going with two more runs in the fourth to extend the lead to 3-0. Three errors left the second and third runs of the game unearned as the early season defensive woes showed.
In the eighth, the Stingers put the game out of reach when they racked up three more hits and an error helped them plate four more runs. The game would stand 7-0 to conclude the eighth which would prove to be the final as the Stingers took game one of the series.
Player Notables:
Ben Rowdon (Gardner-Webb University) was named the Hilton Garden Inn Player of the Game as he finished the game 2-4 with a pair of singles.
Earning the win was Stinger’s southpaw pitcher, Garret Rukes (Alabama), who went six innings, allowing three hits while retiring three with strikeouts along the way. In the seventh, he was relieved by Bryant Claunch (North Alabama) who finished the final three frames giving up a pair of hits and striking out two batters and handing out one free pass. Claunch earned the save in the decision.
MoonDog’s right-hander Jon Ludwig (Minnesota State) was handed the loss after going five innings and allowing four hits and three runs (one earned). Connor Campbell (Lander University) came in for three innings of relief work beginning in the sixth. He allowed three hits and four runs (two earned). Trevor Smisek (Saint Leo University) pitched the final inning and walked one batter.
Due up for the Dogs:
The MoonDogs will hit the road tomorrow and play Willmar in game two of this week’s home and home four-game series with the Stingers. The game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Bill Taunton Stadium in Willmar, 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.