By: Connor Wachtel

Mankato, Minn. — In the 10th inning, the Mankato MoonDogs won in walk-off fashion, 6-5, against the Willmar Stingers Monday night.

Roughly two weeks after his first game-deciding hit, Mason Hull, provided another clutch hit that scored Danny Borgstrom and gave Mankato their first back-to-back wins of the season.

 

 

Mankato got on the board first Monday with a pair of bases-loaded walks and an infield RBI. Michael Curialle took the first free pass with max capacity on the basepaths. Then, MoonDogs right fielder, Zach Kokoska chopped a grounder to short that was good enough for an infield hit and his team-high 14th RBI of the summer. Zach Gilles rounded out the three-run inning with another bases-loaded walk and gave the Dogs a 3-0 lead.

The next half inning saw the Stingers counter with three of their own to tie the game, 3-3.

Tanner Craig put the MoonDogs back out in front, 4-3, in the seventh with a sacrifice fly to deep center that scored Jake Thompson.

The Stingers continued to linger, tying the game in the ninth. Griffin Cheney led off the ninth with a walk. He later stole second with one out and advanced to third following an off-mark throwdown. He scored to make it 4-4 when Jayson Newman hit a single up the middle. It forced extra innings at Franklin Rogers Park Monday.

After the Stingers worked to take their first lead of the night in the top of the 10th, the MoonDogs proved they were more resilient and came out with the 6-5 walk-off win in the bottom half.

 

 

The box score read a 12-9 advantage in hits for Mankato. Despite having three errors to Willmar’s one, the Dogs still found a way to win their fifth game of the season.

 

 

MoonDogs’ starter, Deylen Miley, got the no decision Monday, pitching five complete innings in his third start of the season. He was hit off seven times and allowed three runs (two earned) in the fifth. Miley walked four and struck out seven Monday. Out of the pen, Jakob Meyer, got his first win of the summer. He led the Dogs out a jam in the eighth with a big strikeout. From there, Meyer worked the rest of the game to get the win. He was hit off twice while surrendering two runs (one earned).

The loss went to Newman who took the role of relief pitcher for the Stingers in the 10th. Newman allowed three hits and one earned run in the decision. He struck out both outs and walked one.

 

 

For tonight’s box score click HERE.

The MoonDogs (5-12) head back to Willmar, Minn., tomorrow to close out the five-game series with the Stingers (12-4). First pitch at Bill Taunton Stadium is slated for 7:05 p.m.

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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’ 26^th 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 230 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 (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) 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 MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. 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.