MANKATO, MN.- In another game which came down to the wire, it was the Willmar Stingers who came out on top 7-6 to secure a series split over the Mankato MoonDogs on Sunday.

The Stingers jumped in front early in the game as after a leadoff double from Andrew Sojka in the first, Dallas Duarte drove him in with a sac-fly.

Willmar flexed its muscles three innings later as Kevin Fitzer launched a moonshot over the left field wall to double the Stingers’ lead.

That wouldn’t be the only longball of the inning as MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Sean Rimmer hit one out of the ballpark to bring two more runners home and put the Stingers up 4-0.

Mankato would get those three runs back in the fifth with one swing from Jake Duer to knock Stingers starter Aiden Hansen out of the game who had been reliable up to that point.

Will Whelan got the Stingers through the fifth and the Stingers would again make up those three runs an inning later.

Rimmer smoked a double for his third extra base hit of the day to bring across two runs and he would later score after a wild pitch.

With the Stingers now up 7-3, the MoonDogs would cut away at that lead in the next two innings.

A wild pitch would score one in the sixth and a two-run blast from Kai Roberts brought in two more to again make it a one-run game.

Looking to close out the game, Stingers manager Freddy Smith would call on Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Tom Sun.

Sun had little trouble until the ninth inning where the MoonDogs made their final push.

A single and two walks loaded the bases with one out where a game ending double play would give the Stingers the win.

The Stingers end their three-game losing streak and will now return home to open a two-game series with the St. Cloud Rox.

For more coverage of the Stingers, visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.

The 2023 season is presented by J.D. Kreps Financial Group, empowering investors with powerful financial advice.

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The Willmar Stingers 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. Now in its 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 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 325 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 (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.willmarstingers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Stingers as your favorite team.