MANKATO, Minn. – Back-to-back three-run innings for Mankato marked all the offense the MoonDogs needed to claim a 7-3 victory against the Stingers and advance to the Summer Collegiate World Series Wednesday night at Franklin Rogers Park.

One night after the Willmar Stingers claimed their first postseason victory in franchise history, they fell in the decisive Game 3 of the North Division Northwoods League Playoffs.

Mark Lukowski (Creighton) suffered the loss after allowing six runs in 2.1 innings, although three of the runs were unearned against him. Michael Hahn (Nebraska Kearney) entered the game in the third inning and went the final 5.2 innings, surrendering one unearned run on three hits.

Mankato used three runs in each of the second and third innings to take an early 6-0 lead. Willmar’s first run came in the sixth inning, which began with a single to left field by Forrestt Allday (Central Arkansas). Two batters later, Mitch Rowan (San Francisco) tripled to deep right-center field to drive home Allday. Allday, who set two Northwoods League records during the regular season for most walks (77) and runs scored (68) in a single season, finished the playoffs 5-for-10 with two doubles, four walks and four runs scored.

Willmar’s final two runs came in the ninth. Rowan and Michael Suchy (Florida Gulf Coast) had back-to-back walks to start the frame and scored on an RBI groundout by Max Kuhn (Kentucky) and an RBI single by Hunter Dozier (Stephen F. Austin), respectively. The Stingers’ only other hit in the contest was provided in the first inning by Suchy. Willmar finished the contest with three runs on four hits.

Willmar’s regular season included many highlights in addition to Allday’s two individual records. The Stingers set a franchise record for most wins with 41 to earn their first trip to the Northwoods League Playoffs, while Suchy set the franchise record with 62 RBIs in a single year. As a team, Willmar set a new Northwoods League record with 361 walks.

The 2012 season is presented by Charter. For more information on your Willmar Stingers be sure to visit the West Central Tribune at www.wctrib.com.