THUNDER BAY, Ontario – Thunder Bay scored three runs on two hits in the bottom of the seventh inning after the game had been tied, 2-2, since the end of the second inning to claim a 5-2 victory against the Stingers Saturday night at Port Arthur Stadium.

Back-to-back singles by James Bonds and Brett Kay followed by a walk by Omar Cotto set the stage for the big inning when the Border Cats loaded the bases with nobody out. A sacrifice fly by Kyle Lombardo scored the go-ahead run, and Thunder Bay added two more in the frame to take a decisive three-run lead.
Willmar’s only two runs came in the second inning when Corben Green (Louisiana Monroe) hit a leadoff solo home run to right field. Two batters later, Dillon Haupt (San Diego) hit his third double of the series. He scored with two outs in the inning on an RBI double by Zach Benson (Stephen F. Austin).

Sean Becker shut down the Stingers offense for the rest of the evening. Making his first start of the year for the Border Cats, he finished the game with two runs allowed on eight hits. He struck out four and only walked two in eight innings. George Asmus (Washington) received a no-decision for the Stingers after surrendering two runs on six hits in a five-inning start. Andre Wheeler (Texas Tech) took the loss after giving up three runs on three hits in 1.1 innings.

Michael Suchy (Florida Gulf Coast) and Haupt had the only multi-hit games for the Stingers. Suchy hit two doubles to increase his team-leading total to 12, while Haupt finished the game 2-for-4 with a double. Kenny Roberts (Alabama) added a double in the contest. Six of Willmar’s eight hits went for extra bases, but the Stingers only had multiple base runners in an inning twice.

Willmar plays its final contest before the All-Star Break at Thunder Bay Sunday with a game at 4:05 p.m. CT.

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.