Willmar, MN – St. Cloud (50-19) battled back and forth with Willmar (49-20) in the first game of the playoffs but fell 6-5 on the road to start the series.

The Rox now return home for the rest of the series against the Stingers on Monday. If the Rox win game two, the decisive third game would be on Tuesday in St. Cloud to advance to the Great Plains Championship.

Charlie Condon (Georgia) helped the Rox to an early lead on Sunday, hitting a two-run home run to center field to get the scoring started in the first. Condon would tack on another RBI single later in the game, driving in three of St. Cloud’s five runs.

In back-to-back games, O’Neill Burgos (Southern) hit a home run for his fourth of the season. Burgos tied the game up in the fourth inning with his solo shot to left after St. Cloud fell behind.

On the mound, Brayden Gainey (Alabama) made the start in the playoff opener and worked four innings on the mound. Gainey gave up four runs but left the game with the Rox on top after posting a zero in his final inning on the bump.

Enrique Ozoa (Southern) came out of the bullpen late in the game and was able to give the Rox a chance to tie the game up in the ninth. Ozoa tossed a scoreless inning thanks to Gustavo Nava (Southern) throwing out a runner to end the eighth.

For a full box score from Sunday’s game, click here.

The Rox look to even up the series at home on Monday with the season on the line. First pitch in game two of the series is scheduled for 7:05 pm from the Rock Pile.

For the full 2022 Rox schedule, click here. The 2022 season is presented by Fleet Farm. For more information regarding this release, season tickets and partial season ticket packages for the 2022 season including Kwik Trip 7-Game Packs, please contact the Rox office at 320-240-9798 or visit www.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. Now in its’ 29^th 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, 300 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 (NYM), 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 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. 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.