Eau Claire, WI — We can still be surprised through 71 games. Jake Stevenson (Minnesota) didn't just surprise us, he left our jaws on the floor in what was arguably the best start by a pitcher all season. In just his 5th start, he earned his 2nd win after a lights-out performance to lead the Rox to a 1-0 win on the road. 

He pitched 8 innings and only allowed 3 hits. What's even better is the fact he struck out 8 batters and walked none. Also, to finish the night he retired 16 consecutive batters. The sophomore became the 2nd pitcher all year to throw 8 innings in a start.

The held on to their slim lead late thanks to Brent Killam (Georgetown), who closed out the 9th inning. The lefty earned his 9th save of the season, and Rox picked up a big win before the final day of the regular season tomorrow. 

Keaton Kringlen (BYU) provided the only offense of the night for both teams. It happened in the 1st inning with runners on 1st and 2nd and 2 outs. A single into Centerfield brought in Ricardo Sanchez (Arkansas Pine-Bluff) after his single earlier in the inning.

No other team scored the rest of the night, and St. Cloud won for the 42nd time this year. It puts them still in contention going into tomorrow's regulation season finale to clinch home field advantage in the Divisional rounds of the playoffs for the 3rd straight year. 

No matter what, it hosts a playoff game Monday night at 7:05 PM. Limited tickets are still available to purchase. You can call our Rox box office at 320-240-9798 or go to our website 24 hours a days at stcloudrox.com.

Tonight's Box Score.

Northwoods League Standings.

Saturday's St. Cloud Times Player of the Night is Jake Stevenson. He pitched 8 phenomenal innings with 8 strikeouts and 3 hits allowed in his 2nd win this season.

The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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, 180 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two- time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.stcloudrox.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rox as your favorite team.