MoonDogs Split Sunday Doubleheader with Stingers
July 19, 2020 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Mankato MoonDogs News Release
Willmar, Minn. -ÃÂ The Mankato MoonDogs split a day-night doubleheader with the Willmar Stingers on Sunday with a 15-13 loss and 10-5 win.
GAME ONE
The Stingers mustered three multi-run innings and a pair of one-run frames en route to a 15-13 win in game one against the MoonDogs Sunday.
After the MoonDogs came back from down six, they took their first lead, 11-9, in the seventh. However, the Stingers took it back in the bottom half after a six-run rally that eventually proved too much for the visiting Dogs.
The big story was the long ball for Mankato with four home runs in Sunday's first game.ÃÂ Jake ThompsonÃÂ hit a pair of two-run home runs in game one. The Kansas State outfield duo ofÃÂ Dylan PhillipsÃÂ andÃÂ Zach KokoskaÃÂ also had a home run each.
The Stingers got on the board first behind a four-run second inning. Thompson hit his first home run of the summer in the fourth to cut the deficit in half. Willmar one upped Mankato in the bottom of the fourth with another trio of runs to make it a 7-2 game. The Stingers added one more in the fifth and would do the same in the sixth, but not before the Dogs could interrupt in the top half.
Phillips blasted his first home run of the summer as part of a sixth-inning, five-run surge. He hit the three-run shot that brought the MoonDogs within two, 9-7.
In the seventh, Thompson and Kokoska brought their big bats out. Each hit two-run home runs, giving the MoonDogs their first lead, 11-9. The Stingers were not having it and countered with another crooked number in the bottom half. It was a six spot and gave Willmar a 15-11 lead.
The MoonDogs mounted a ninth-inning rally with a pair of runs scoring, but failed to get the four needed in order to keep Sunday's matinee alive and the Stingers won game one, 15-13
Earning the game-one win was Willmar'sÃÂ Grayson Bray. Bray pitched the eighth and went into the ninth giving up two runs and two hits. Willmar' two-way closer,ÃÂ Jayson Newman, got the save in Sunday's first game. He got the game's final two outs and struck out one in the process.
Thomas BrussÃÂ got the MoonDogs loss. Bruss got the final out of the sixth and worked to get another in the seventh but was hit off five times for six runs (five earned). He walked and struck out two.
GAME TWO
The MoonDogs salvaged the doubleheader split with a 10-5 win over the Stingers to close out the weekend.
The MoonDogs had game two's quick start, batting around in the second inning for four runs on five hits and received help from a Willmar error.
Phillips added to his Sunday resume in the fourth inning with another three-run home run to make it 7-0. The Stingers answered with a measly one run in the bottom half and it was 7-1 through four innings.
Willmar added another pair to shrink the deficit to 7-3 in the fifth.
Mankato scored three insurance runs in the seventh.ÃÂ Maddux HoughtonÃÂ led off the inning being hit by a pitch. He later scored when Kokoska drew a bases-loaded walk.ÃÂ Michael CurialleÃÂ got on and scored on an RBI single slapped byÃÂ Mason Hull. The scoring rounded out with Phillips adding another RBI to his stat line in the form of a sacrifice fly that made it 10-3. Stingers' second basemanÃÂ Griffin CheneyÃÂ hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to cut the MoonDogs' lead in half, 10-5.
Phillips sealed the deal pitching from that point on with a three-inning save for a MoonDogs 10-5 win.
The winning pitcher in game two was MoonDogs' right handerÃÂ Shane Gray. Gray threw six complete innings allowing four hits and three runs (two earned). He walked three but struck out seven. In relief, Phillips continued to make his presence felt. He allowed just one two-run home run in the seventh and a hit in the ninth. Phillips also struck out three and closed the game out to add the three-inning save to his Sunday showing.
The loss went to Stingers' starter,ÃÂ Noah Cameron, who went two innings and allowed six hits and four runs.
For tonight's box scores clickÃÂ HERE.
Mankato (4-12) is back at The Frank tomorrow for the fourth of five games in the series with Willmar (12-3). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Northwoods League Stories from July 19, 2020
- MacDaddies Late Rallies Secure Game One Win, Game Two Draw with Growlers - Kalamazoo Growlers
- MoonDogs Split Sunday Doubleheader with Stingers - Mankato MoonDogs
- Stingers Fall to Mankato in Game Two of Doubleheader - Willmar Stingers
- Ryan Walstad Slams Rafters to 8-3 Win - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Loggers Drop Final Game of Homestand, Lose to Rafters 8-3 - La Crosse Loggers
- Offense Powers Rox to Win over Rochester on Sunday - St. Cloud Rox
- Kindreich's Strong Start Not Enough in Loss - Rochester Honkers
- Pitching Propels Pit Spitters Victory - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Green Bay Picks up First Shutout of Season - Green Bay Rockers
- Chucks Win 4-3 in Game Two of Doubleheader, Split Twin Bill against FDL - Wausau Woodchucks
- Stingers Win Wild One over Mankato - Willmar Stingers
- Flickertails End Larks Winning Streak at Eight - Bismarck Larks
- Bobbers Take Kenosha Series Lead on 7-1 Win - Kenosha Kingfish
- Rafters Travel to La Crosse for Sunday Baseball Versus the Loggers - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Rivets Pound Booyah 13-4 to Extend Winning Streak to 3 - Rockford Rivets
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
