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Published On: September 27th, 2013

WILLMAR, Minn. – Willmar could only muster three hits against Thunder Bay Wednesday night in a game that the Stingers lost to the Border Cats, 4-1.

Thunder Bay scored a run in each of the first two innings and two runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead, which is the only offense they would need for the game. Willmar did not get its first baserunner until the fourth inning when Jason Leblebijian (Bradley) hit his 11th double of the season to left field. Sean Dwyer (Florida Gulf Coast) followed with a two-out walk, but that was the only inning in which the Stingers had more than one man on base.

In the sixth inning, Mitch Rowan (Willamette) led off with a single. Leblebijian replaced Rowan at first base after grounding into a fielder’s choice. He then advanced to third on a throwing error by Thunder Bay’s catcher, which set up a sacrifice fly by Eduardo Gonzalez (Alcorn State) for the only RBI for Willmar. Chris Woolley (Western Nevada College) had the other hit for the Stingers, a double in the fifth inning.

Josh Hoekstra (Century College) had his best outing on the mound, working two perfect innings to close the game for the Stingers. Dan Russell took the loss to finish the year with a 6-3 record. He struck out seven in six innings of work.

Willmar will play Thunder Bay again Thursday night at 6:05 p.m. Scott Lieser (St. Cloud State) will start the game for the Stingers after setting a franchise record with 10 strikeouts in his last outing.

The 2011 season is presented by Charter.