Duluth’s troubling start leads to 9-1 game two loss
Matthew Hargrove, matthewhargrove0834@gmail.com
Duluth, Minnesota – The Willmar Stingers put up a colossal seven runs in the first two innings that eventually aided a 9-1 victory over the Duluth Huskies on Friday night. Sam Malec picked up his second win of the season for Willmar, while Oscar Lepe was dotted with his second loss of the season. Catcher Derek Hackman was almost unstoppable in the box tonight, going 2-3 with three RBIs and two walks. Third baseman Mike Boeve had the only multi-hit game for Duluth, finishing 3-4 including a double.
Boeve scored the first run of the ballgame on a passed ball in the first inning, which would go on to be the only significant piece of offense for the Huskies. A half inning later, the Stingers dismantled the Duluth starter in Lepe, tagging the lefty for five first inning runs. RBI hits in the inning came from shortstop Jorge Lucero, Hackman, and left fielder Asa Awbrey. The Stingers weren’t done with their early going tear just yet, as Willmar scored two more runs off of newly put in pitcher Matthew Craven. Craven allowed an RBI double to designated hitter William Hamiter, and an RBI single to Hackman. The Stingers scored two more runs in innings seven and eight to eventually beat Duluth 9-1.
Game three of four will be played tomorrow night at 7:05, in which the Huskies will hand the ball over to Ben Pederson. Pederson is coming off a rain shortened outing against the Mankato MoonDogs, where Pederson allowed two runs over four innings of work. Willmar will start Duke Coborn, who has already started this year against the Huskies. Coborn gave up three runs over four innings back on July 24th at Wade Stadium.
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The Duluth Huskies are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 250 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.duluthhuskies.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Huskies as your favorite team.