DULUTH, Minn. – Jason Leblebijian (Bradley) blasted two home runs to left field in his first two at-bats, but each time the Stingers scored, the Duluth Huskies came back, eventually taking the afternoon contest at Wade Stadium, 8-7.
In addition to Leblebijian, three other Stingers had multi-hit games, led by Mitch Rowan (Willamette) who went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Jake Stinnett (Maryland) also went 2-for-4 and picked up his team-leading 22nd RBI of the year. Eduardo Gonzalez (Alcorn State) was 2-for-5 in the game with a run scored to raise his batting average to .329.
As the second batter of the game, Leblebijian stepped to the plate and hit a solo home run to left field to give the Stingers a quick 1-0 lead, but the Huskies responded with three runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning to claim a 3-1 advantage heading into the second.
In the third inning, Rowan ripped an RBI double to score Blake Shepherd (Viterbo) and make it a one-run game, 3-2. Two batters later, Leblebijian stepped to the plate again and hit another home run to left field to give the Stingers the lead for the second time. Leblebijian’s third homer of the season and his 13th RBI put the Stingers on top, 4-3, but for the second-straight time the Huskies responded. Duluth plated one run in the bottom half of the frame to tie game, 4-4, through three innings. The Huskies took the lead back in the next inning with two runs on two hits to grab a 6-4 lead in the fourth.
Trailing 6-4 through seven innings, Leblebijian began the eighth with a single, and Gonzalez followed with a double to represent the tying run on second base. Sean Dwyer (Florida Gulf Coast) then singled to score Leblebijian and bring the Stingers within one. Two batters later, Stinnett tied the game with an RBI groundout. With Dwyer at second base and two outs in the inning, Jarid Scarafiotti (Stephen F. Austin) singled to move the Stingers ahead of Duluth again, 7-6.
However, Duluth came back again, scoring two runs without a hit in the eighth inning to take the lead for good. With the help of two walks, two hit batters and an error, Duluth took an 8-7 lead in the frame. Kevin Kuntz scored the go-ahead run after Jacob Wise was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The Stingers will play two more games against the Duluth Huskies before returning home to begin the second half of the season against Thunder Bay Thursday night. Former Minnesota Twin and World Series Champion Steve Lombardozzi will throw out the ceremonial first pitch against the Thunder Bay Border Cats at 7:05 p.m., on Thursday, July 7, at Bill Taunton Stadium as part of “Minnesota Twins Night” presented by KDJS 1590AM.
The Stingers next game will be at Duluth Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. Scott Lieser will start for Willmar.
The 2011 season is presented by Charter.
