Willmar Stingers (2-2, 24-10) Starting Pitcher Andrew Towns only had one real blip through eight innings on his way to a third victory (3-0) on the season and a series sweep over the Thunder Bay Border Cats (1-3, 15-24) by a score of 4-3. Towns allowed two runs, one earned, giving up just four hits and striking out nine. Brady Anderson collected his third save of the season.
Stinger First Baseman Nick Rivera came back from an 0-6 night to go 3-4 with a walk, a double and three RBI's. Dan Motl went 2-3 with a pair of walks and a run scored.
Christian Correa (Nicholls State) and Cory Kay (Missouri State) each went 2-2 on the night. Correa hit a double. Kay, who reached every time at the dish, in the seven spot in the order, along with the rest of the bottom of the order (Adam Collins (Central Michigan) and Jacob Robson (Mississippi State)) went 4-8 collectively. It was the only offense the Cats could threaten with. Collins and Kay each had a run scored and an RBI.
Border Cats Starter Wesley Helsabeck (Winston Salem State) had a fantastic outing over-shadowed. Making his second start of the season the lefty allowed five hits and two runs over five innings. He walked two and struck out eight but left without a decision. A couple of Cats made their debuts on the mound. Zach Morganstern (Augustana College) and Austin Griffie (Harford CC) each pitched a shutout inning out of the pen. Michael Daley (Kean University) (1-3) took the loss after getting into a jam in the 7th.
With the Stingers ahead 2-0 into the bottom of the 5th the Border Cats would touch up Towns for the only blemish he had all game. Collins knocked a triple to the alley in right centre scoring Kay and then scoring on the same play as a relay throw to third went out of play allowing Collins to score.
The Stingers would take the lead for good in the top of the 7th. Daley would allow a leadoff double to Jack Ross and then walk Sean Beesley to leave runners on the corners. Nathaniel Leon (St. Peter's University) came in with the job of getting ground balls. He got a pair but both escaped the infield off the bats of Rivera and Casey Hughston on back-to-back singles plating Ross and Beesley respectively.
Kay would drive in a run in the 9th but be left stranded on first as the representative tying run.
The Border Cats next head out on a four game road trip to Wisconsin starting Sunday night. They will take on the Rafters in Wisconsin Rapids (1-3, 13-26) starting at 6:05 EDT.