WILLMAR–Like they say, two outta three ain’t bad and that’s exactly what the Stingers got against the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers after the finale of a three game set on Friday night at Bill Taunton Stadium.  After taking back-to-back games from the Lunkers in Brainerd, the Stingers dropped a tight one on Friday, 8-3 in eleven innings.  The final score didn’t end up reflecting how close the game really was, as the teams were deadlocked at two apiece from the fourth inning on.

But that all changed in the top of the eleventh, when the Lunkers’ bats came to life off Willmar reliever Jacob Barnes.  Just one night removed from his first win of 2010, Barnes was stuck with the loss on Friday after giving up six runs in just two thirds of an inning pitched.  Logan Birr started on the mound for the Stingers and was perfect through three frames, but was forced to leave after the fourth, again the victim of Northwoods League pitching restrictions.

The night started off great offensively for the Stingers as Carlos Leyva and Isaac Ballou led off the game with back-to-back singles.  After an Eduardo Gonzalez sacrifice, Jordan Smith delivered a two-run knock to stake Willmar to an early lead.  With the hit, Smith, already third in the Northwoods League in batting average, drew even with St. Cloud shortstop Steve Nyisztor at 21 for the League RBI lead.

Next up for the 12-11 Stingers, it’s a two game set with the Thunder Bay Border Cats, getting underway at 7:05 pm on Saturday from Bill Taunton Stadium.  You won’t want to miss it either, as Saturday is Minnesota Golden Gophers night the ballpark.  Fans should plan to arrive early as a pair of Gopher athletes will be on hand to sign autographs and pose for photos before the game alongside mascot Goldy Gopher!  For tickets, call the Stingers’ ticket office at 320-222-2010 or visit willmarstingers.com for more information.  As always, we remind you to log on to wctrib.com for all your Stingers coverage.  The 2010 season is presented by Charter.