The Larks dropped a nail-biter, 7-6, in game three against the Willmar Stingers on Family Funday Sunday presented by BNC National Bank.

The Stingers took the lead in the second inning and never trailed, but the Larks kept it close to the final out. To say tonight’s game included highlight plays, would be an understatement. Diving plays, hard hit balls, sliding grabs and home runs all accumulated to one of the season’s most entertaining games.

The Larks saw fantastic outings from the final three pitchers out of the bullpen. Will Chauffe (Pepperdine University) got the call in the seventh, allowing no hits, no earned runs and struck out one. Josh Combs (Point Loma Nazarene) entered in the eighth and threw up a goose egg on the scoreboard as well. 

Combs didn’t deliver the only highlight reel in the eighth. After a fly ball hit by catcher Will Busch (North Dakota State), Khalid Collymore (Montevallo) delivered the Fetzer Electric Play of the Game after making a full dive catch with a runner on base. 

Finally, Ryan Bourassa (South Dakota State) came in and retired the side. Bourassa also delivered the Metro Area Ambulance Fastest Pitch of the Game at 93 mph. 

At the plate, Spencer Sarringar (Northern State) went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the seventh, and a RBI single in the third. Jackson Beaman (Missouri) also finished with an RBI on two hits. 

For the Stingers, Andrew Baumgart (North Dakota State) went four and one third innings pitched and allowed four earned runs while striking out five Larks. Steven Brooks (Cal Poly) went three full innings out of the bullpen and allowed only one earned run and struck out four batters. Finally, John Bezdicek (Kennesaw State) went the final inning and two thirds, allowed no earned runs, one hit and got his third save of the year. 

Ben Bateman (Minnesota) went two-for-four with a run scored and an RBI. Drey Dirksen (Augustana University) delivered one of two home runs between both teams in the top of the third. That home run was his sixth of the year and gave the Stingers their largest lead of the game.

The Larks and the Stingers are back in action for the finale of the four-game series for USA Day, presented by Dakota Community Bank and Trust. Gates open at 12:05 PM with first pitch coming up at 1:05 PM, only available on Northwoods League TV.