The Duluth Huskies (18-17) lost to the Willmar Stingers (17-18) Monday afternoon at Wade Stadium.
Both teams came out firing as the Stingers scored 3 runs in the top of the 1st thanks to a Greg Lambert ground rule double that scored Quincy McAfee and a double by Danny Mayer which scored Danny Pardo and Greg Lambert. The Huskies battled back and scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st thanks to a Justin Ambrosino single which scored Daniel Amaral and Austin Bernard, a Mitch Reeves single which scored Justin Ambrosino, and a Jake Pries single which scored Carter Hanford and Reeves.
The 2nd inning saw 1 more run from the Stingers on a sac fly by Meyer which scored Pardo and 2 more runs for the Huskies thanks to a Liam Sabino sac fly which scored Amaral and a single by Ambrosino which scored Bernard. In the 3rd inning the Huskies pitching finally seemed to settle in and held the Stingers scoreless. The Huskies added 1 run in the bottom of the inning thanks to Jake Pries’ first homerun of the season which was also the first homerun that the Huskies have hit this year at Wade Stadium. At this point the Huskies led the game 8-4. They would add to that lead in the bottom of the 6th when Hanford doubled home Ambrosino, making the game 9-4 Huskies.
The 7th inning is where things took a turn for the Huskies as the Stingers scored 9 runs. The Stingers then scored 3 runs in the top of the 8th to make the game 16-9 Willmar. The Huskies scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th thanks to a Pries triple which scored Hanford and Bart In den Kleef and a Brendan McClary groundout which scored Pries, making the final score Huskies 12 Stingers 16.
Jesse Fruge started for the Huskies and went 3.0 innings allowing 4 runs on 4 hits walking 4 and striking out 1. He was replaced by Henry DeCaster, who took the loss after going 3.0 innings allowing 7 runs on 6 hits walking 5. Reid Long replaced DeCaster and threw 0.2 innings allowing 2 runs on 3 hits walking 2 and striking out 1. Wade Regas finished the game for the Huskies pitching 2.1 innings allowing 3 runs on 4 hits striking out 2.
Amaral finished the day 3-5 with 2 runs scored, 1 walk, and 1 stolen base; Ambrosino went 2-5 with 2 runs scored and 3RBIs; and Pries was 3-5 with a HR, 3B, 2 runs scored, and 5RBIs.
The Huskies are back home tomorrow night for the second game of the series vs the Willmar Stingers. First pitch from Wade Stadium is scheduled for 6:35. Tomorrow is College Night and Dollar Dog Night! Show your college ID and get a GA ticket for $5! Bud & Bud Light taps will be $3, and taxis will be available out front of Wade stadium after the game. The Duluth Huskies will also be selling Hot Dogs for just one dollar, while supplies last!
Waste Management is sponsoring the game and will be giving away rally towels while supplies last. For more information, contact the Duluth Huskies front office at 218-786-9909 or huskies@duluthhuskies.com.
