MANKATO, Minn. – The Stingers fell 11-5 in the first of a home-and-home series against the MoonDogs Friday evening. 

The game began with the MoonDogs plating five runs in the first inning. 

After four scoreless innings for Willmar, 2017 All-Star selection Marcus Still (New Mexico State) drove in two runs with a double off the left field wall. It drove in Tyler Murray (Hawaii) and Tyler Reichenborn (Iowa Western) for the first Willmar runs of the evening.

Moments later, Luke Becker (Kentucky) drove in Still for the Stingers' third run.

Meanwhile, Luke Chevalier (Northern State) labored through five innings out of the bullpen. He gave up four hits and five runs total, also striking out five batters.

Two more runs were brought in for the Stingers when Josh Bissonette (Baylor) brought in Reichenborn and Becker with a double. 

The Stingers were unable to complete the comeback, falling to 19-20 overall on the year and 1-2 in the second half.

Today's Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Luke Becker. CDI is your local medical imaging provider. It’s your choice where you go for medical imaging, for MRI, CT, mammograms and pain injections, choose CDI. Visit online at myCDI.com/CentralMN.

The Stingers return home to complete the home-and-home tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Polo Portela (Sac City) will be on the mound. Portela has a 0.00 ERA so far this season.

It will be Margaritaville Night at the ballpark as well as Saturday Night Fireworks. The first 250 fans will receive 3D glasses and all fans will be treated to a post-game fireworks extravaganza following each Saturday home game presented by Fischer Laser Eye Center.

The 2017 Stingers season is presented by Marcus Construction. For more coverage of the Stingers, visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.