WILLMAR, Minn. – Forrestt Allday’s two-run double with two outs in the fifth inning broke a scoreless tie to propel the Stingers to a 4-2 victory against Rochester Monday night at Bill Taunton Stadium.

Willmar’s (14-9) win coupled up with Duluth’s (13-11) loss to Waterloo gave the Stingers a 1.5 game lead with 12 games remaining in the season.

Kyle Fischer (St. Cloud State) prevailed in a pitcher’s duel against Jared Miller for the Honkers. Fischer went seven innings, allowing only two runs on seven hits while striking out three. Brady Anderson (Florida Gulf Coast) pitched the final 1.2 innings to tie for the league lead in saves with 14. Anderson struck out the final batter to secure the victory. Miller took the loss after pitching 4.2 innings of scoreless baseball before Allday’s double.

After the first two batters of the fifth were retired, Zach Benson (Stephen F. Austin) and JD Dorgan (St. Thomas) hit back-to-back singles. Allday (Central Arkansas) then doubled to right-center field to give the Stingers the first runs of the game.

Willmar added to its lead with two more runs in the sixth. Dillon Haupt (San Diego) began the frame with a walk, and Michael Suchy (Florida Gulf Coast) singled to advance Haupt to third. Haupt scored one batter later on a wild pitch, and Hunter Dozier (Stephen F. Austin) followed with an RBI groundout to score Suchy to make it a 4-0 contest.

Rochester came back with two runs in the seventh with three-straight singles, but Fischer eliminated the threat with three straight outs to keep the Stingers in front, 4-2.
 
Willmar continues its three-game series with Rochester with a Tuesday game at 7:05 p.m. It’s Olympic Night presented by Central Minnesota Credit Union. Former Olympians and Minnesota natives Carrie Tollefson and Brad Rheingans will be at the ballpark for the contest.

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.