WILLMAR — Battered by the Mankato Moondogs for eight runs in the top of the sixth inning, the Willmar Stingers could not recover during their 9-7 loss Friday from Bill Taunton Stadium.
Willmar has dropped four games in a row.
The Stingers brought the go-ahead run to plate in the ninth. With runners at second and third base, Jake Meyer, having homered earlier in the contest, stepped to the plate representing the winning run. However, Andre Granillo struck out Meyer to preserve the Mankato win.
The Moondogs sent 12 batters to the plate during the sixth to turn a 4-1 deficit into a five-run advantage.
Adam LaRock and Jack Waletich each reached twice during the inning. LaRock led off the frame with a walk before driving home a pair with a double. Waletich first reached on an error and then delivered a two-run double to make it 9-4.
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Ethan Mocchi, Beau Schumacher, Tommy Beres and Mitchell Massino added RBI base hits in a sixth that saw three Willmar pitchers toe the rubber.
Four of the Mankato’s eight runs during the onslaught were charged to Stingers starter Seth Miller. Taking the loss, he threw five innings, allowing five runs on four hits and four walks. Miller dropped to 1-2 this summer.
Striking out eight, Deylen Miley earned his second victory this summer for the MoonDogs (16-20). He relinquished four runs on eight hits and a couple of walks.
For the Stingers (19-19), Meyer and Griffin Cheney each hit home runs in the fourth. Meyer sent a two-run homer to center field that scored Hunter Ranweiler. Two batters later, Cheney hammered a solo shot. In the ninth, Kyle Manzardo added a solo home run. Cheney and Manzardo went deep for the second consecutive night.
Jayson Newman was the home team’s biggest bright spot. With three doubles, the first led Willmar with four hits.
Willmar plays at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Mankato’s Franklin Rogers Park.
