Willmar, MN – Jack Kelly (Minnesota) and Jordan Barth (Augustana) both had multiple hits, but St. Cloud (4-4) dropped the series opener to Willmar (5-2) by a score of 7-2 on Friday.

The Rox took an early lead in the third inning. Ben Norman (Iowa) and Nick Marinconz (Cal Poly) led off with consecutive walks. Jack Kelly followed in the next at-bat with a single to load the bases. Garett Delano (Mercer) would later reach base via fielder’s choice and score Norman to go ahead 1-0.

In the eighth inning, 2019 Rox Team MVP Jordan Barth ripped a single up the middle and scored Jack Kelly from second base. It’s his sixth RBI of the season.

Sam Ireland (Minnesota), Logan Thomason (Eastern Kentucky), Luke Roskam (Nebraska), Marinconz, Barth and Jack Kelly all had hits in the game.

Brandon White (Washington State) got the start on the mound and pitched the first three innings, striking out three batters and giving up no runs. Justin Simanek (Southeastern Louisiana) saw time on the mound and was followed by Tyson Heaton (BYU), who threw 2.2 innings. Nick DeSalvo (LIU-Brooklyn) hurled the final two innings.

St. Cloud will finish the three-game road series with Willmar on Saturday at Bill Taunton Stadium. Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:05 pm and the second game is slated for a 7:05 pm first pitch.

The Rox will return home to the Rock Pile on Monday, July 13th at 7:05 pm against the Mankato MoonDogs.

If you would like more information on tickets for the 2020 season, or more information regarding this press release,  please contact the Rox front office at 320-240-9798 or visit stcloudrox.com.

The St. Cloud Rox 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 26th 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 230 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 (CHC) 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 All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). 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.stcloudrox.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile.