The Thunder Bay Border Cats (17-36, 3-15) start to the post All-Star campaign commenced on a losing note as they got roughed up by the Willmar Stingers (37-17, 15-9) 7-2 in action at Bill Taunton Stadium in Minnesota. The Stingers led 6-1 after three and never looked back giving starter A.J. Puckett all the run support he needed to roll to victory.

Puckett went seven innings for the win (2-1), allowing two runs on five hits and walking a pair while striking out six.

The Stinger offense got two-hit games from five batters in the order. Sean Beesley hit a solo home run, while Tyler Cohen and Frankie Rios each drove in two runs.

Jordan Serena (Columbia University) went 2-4 in the loss with a solo home run, his 2nd dinger of the season. Serena also stole a base. Adam Collins (Central Michigan) collected the other RBI for the Cats who were outhit 13-5 in the contest.

Tyler McKee (Doane College) made his first start and took the loss (0-1). Then Devin McLemore (Winston Salem State) and Ben Allison (Belhaven University) took the hill and gave the Border Cats offense an opportunity to spark themselves back into the game. McLemore and Allison combined to pitch 5 1/3 innings allowing one run on five hits with a walk and three struck out, but no rally was to be had.

The Border Cats have dropped five in a row and will finish the series against Willmar on Friday night with first pitch slated for 8:05pm EDT.