WILLMAR, Minn. – With the bases loaded and one out in a tied ballgame in the eighth, Steven Brault hit a fly ball to left just deep enough to score Zach Benson, who slid under the tag of Matt Jones for the winning run in a 3-2 Stingers victory at Bill Taunton Stadium Thursday night.

After a leadoff single by Benson (Stephen F. Austin) and a sacrifice bunt by Mitch Rowan (San Francisco), back-to-back walks to Hunter Dozier (Stephen F. Austin) and Kenny Roberts (Alabama) loaded the bases with one out. Brault (Regis) then hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Benson to put the Stingers in front.

The Stingers’ pitching staff had a strong outing in the low-scoring contest. Kyle Fischer (St. Cloud State) went 7-1/3 innings, striking out eight while only walking two. Fischer only allowed one earned run on six hits but did not factor into the decision. Andre Wheeler (Texas Tech) picked up his first victory of the season after one scoreless inning of relief, while Brady Anderson (Florida Gulf Coast) got the final two outs for his second save of the season.

Trailing 1-0 in the second, Dozier hit a solo homer to lead off the inning – his second of the year for his 11^th RBI. The Stingers took the lead one inning later when JD Dorgan (St. Thomas) hit a leadoff single and scored two batters later on an RBI groundout by Forrestt Allday (Central Arkansas).

Willmar will take onThunder Bay again Friday night at 7:05 p.m. There will be a guest appearance by Cartoon Network’s Scooby Doo presented by Charter Communications. The night will feature all things Scooby Doo, and fans will be able to help Shaggy and Scooby solve a mystery at the ballpark.

The 2012 season is presented by Charter. For more information on your Willmar Stingers be sure to visit the West Central Tribune at www.wctrib.com.