Willmar, MN – The Stingers used 11 runs in their last three innings on offense to take control of the game late. Pridgen Paris was 3-6 with three RBIs, and Kyler Proctor walloped a home run and tallied three RBIs in the 16-6 sweep over the Bucks in game two Sunday night.

After falling behind in the first inning on Saturday night, the Stingers grabbed an early advantage in the bottom of the first inning in game two. Luke DeVine led off with a double, then stole third. With one out, David Estrada grounded out to plate DeVine to work Willmar ahead 1-0. After consecutive two-out walks, Landon Lowe tucked an RBI double down the third base line to bring in another run to make it 2-0. One pitch later, Matthew Bernath muscled an RBI single through the left side of the infield to grow the lead to 3-0. During the next at-bat, Lowe stole home on a double steal to swipe a 4-0 advantage.

In the top of the second inning, the Bucks got a run back. A  Jake Slade single and two walks loaded the bases before Dane Most earned an RBI on a fielder’s choice to chip the lead to 4-1. 

In the home half of the frame, Willmar regained the four-run lead with a Keaton Cottam solo home run to straightaway center field to make it 5-1. 

In the top of the third, Waterloo scratched another run across. Mitchell Iliff and George Baker each worked walks, then with two outs, Zach Davis pulled a single through the left side of the infield to bring Iliff in to score to chip the lead to 5-2. 

In the top of the fifth, the Bucks inched closer. With the bases loaded, Willmar turned two, but Iliff scored on the play to chisel the lead to 5-3. 

In the top of the sixth inning, Waterloo tied the game. Bubby Dosztan-Campbell led off with a single, then with two-outs Caleb Parker blooped a single to right to bring Bubby in to slash the lead to 5-4. After Iliff worked a walk, Slade laced a single to left to bring Parker around to score to level the tally at 5-5. 

In the last of the sixth, Willmar snatched the lead right back. Bernath was hit by a pitch, then Kyler Proctor and DeVine walked to load the bases. With one away, Paris Pridgen cued a single down the right field line to plate a pair of runs to jump the Stingers back ahead 7-5. In the next at-bat, Pridgen feigned a steal to allow DeVine to steal home to swipe an 8-5 cushion.

In the bottom of the seventh, Willmar broke the game open. Proctor and Pridgen each notched RBI base hits to grow the lead to 10-5, then Keaton Cottam lifted a sac fly to put another run on the board, 11-5. Later in the inning, David Estrada roped a single into center to bring in two runs to widen the gap to 13-5. Kyler Proctor added on with a home run in the eighth as the Stingers routed Waterloo 16-6 for the sweep on Sunday evening.

With the loss, the Bucks go to 23-27 on the season and 9-7 in the second half of the season. Next on the docket for Waterloo is a split day night doubleheader where they host Eau Claire for the first of four games. Both starters are TBD.

https://northwoodsleague.com/baseball/game/?id=6262