Cats win wild one in Mankato

Up eight runs headed for the bottom of the ninth, the Border Cats did their best to blow the lead.

But the Mankato Moon Dogs were halted after plating seven runs in their final at bat, the Cats settling for a wild 13-12 triumph on the road.

Tyler Duplantis, named the Northwoods League player of the night, was the offensive star for the pitching-challenged Cats, going 5-for-6 at the plate with three runs driven in. Cory Kay, who went 2-for-3, scored four times, while Dylan Becker, Alex Bautista and Tyler Stetson each crossed the plate twice.

Starter Clint Knoblauch lasted into the seventh, allowing five runs, to pick up the win. Daniel Stoney was torched for all seven runs in the ninth, before Ryan Atwood came on to record the final out, striking out Chase Simpson with the bases loaded.
Jon Perrin took the loss for Mankato (14-13).

The Cats improved to 11-16. Any combination of two Waterloo wins or Thunder Bay losses will eliminate the Border Cats from first-half title contention.