MANKATO, MN – The Willmar Stingers lost to the Mankato MoonDogs tonight, 5-2.

Mankato was able to bounce back in a dominant effort on the mound. The MoonDogs pitchers struck out the Stingers 13 times. Mankato took the lead in the second and Willmar was never able to get the deficit less than two runs.

MoonDogs were able to get two home with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second. A string of hits with two outs would put Mankato ahead. Left fielder Boston Merila hit a high bouncing ball over second base to score runners from second and third.

The MoonDogs would increase their lead off of the bat of Derek Shoen, who sent a ball to right field off of the videoboard.

The Stingers were finally able to score in the top of the fifth when Brett Bateman hit an RBI single sending home Josh Fitzgerald from second. Bateman would be named the MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game.

He finished the game 2-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases. He now has 13 stolen bases this year which ties him for second for the most stolen bases in the Northwoods League.

The MoonDogs would respond in the very next inning scoring another run making the score 4-1. The Stingers would score again in the sixth when Jakob Christian scored Joey Walls from third.

That would be the last run from the Stingers. The game would end 5-2 in favor of Mankato.

The Stinger’s record would move to 13-11 and the MoonDogs got back to .500 at 12-12.

Willmar travels to St. Cloud tomorrow for a home-and-home series against Rox.