St. Cloud, MN — After a rainout yesterday, the Rox came back and ready to play in Game 1 of the Northwoods League World Series. The game was tied late, but once again in the playoffs the Rox found a way to power past their opponent. This time they stunned the Bombers when it mattered most and won 7-5. 

Ricardo Sanchez (Arkansas-Pine Bluff) blasted his 2nd HR of the year in the 7th inning with the game tied after Battle Creek made it 5-5 in the top half of the inning. Matthew Tarantino (Pacific) drove in another run on a sacrifice fly and it proved to be enough Thursday. 

St. Cloud blew the doors off early, scoring 5 runs before the end of the 3rd inning. Angelo Altavilla (Nebraska) smashed a 2 run double in the 2nd, followed by a Brent Killam, yes, a Brent Killam (Georgetown) RBI single. In his 1st plate appearance since June 1st the closer drove in another run.

He came also entered in the 8th with 2 outs and the bases loaded. He proceeded to strike out all 4 batters he faced, and picked up his 10th and final save of the season. Since Opening Day, Killam has not allowed a run. He finishes the season with a 0.29 ERA, and 52 strikeouts to just 3 walks. 

Kenny Saenz (BYU) did not earn the win, but was still dominant in his final start. He only gave up 3 hits on the night and had a stretch from the 2nd to the 6th inning where he only allowed 1 baserunner, and retired 16 of 17 batters.

The Rox and Bombers now shift the Championship Series to Battle Creek for Game 2 and 3 if necessary. 1st pitch will be at 6:05 PM CST as the Rox look to win their 1st Northwoods League Championship in franchise history. You can watch Game 2 online on the Northwoods League website, or you can tune in to 1390 AM Granite City Sports.

Tonight's Box Score.

Thursday's St. Cloud Times Player(s) of the Night are Ricardo Sanchez and Brent Killam. Sanchez lifted the Rox with a go-ahead HR and Killam closed out the final 4 outs and also added an RBI.

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.