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WILLMAR–As if Thursday’s opening night festivities weren’t enough, the Willmar Stingers waited an extra 24 hours to treat their fans to the team’s first ever Northwoods League victory. After Thursday’s 5-3 loss to St. Cloud, the Stingers’ bats exploded Friday for eleven runs, chasing River Bats’ starter Austen Wisroth after just three and a third.
Led by hometown hero Jordan Smith, the Stingers scored in every inning but the first, third and fifth. A seesaw battle for the first five innings, the game was busted wide open by Smith’s sixth-inning, bases loaded, three RBI triple. \”I guess I was just lucky enough to be in that situation,\” said Smith after the game, \”I just got my lucky swing and luckily I got it in the gap.\”
Florida Atlantic sophomore righty Cody Barnes got credit for the inaugural win, throwing five innings of four run ball, giving up just two hits along the way. Alcorn State first baseman Eduardo Gonzalez went two for five with a double and a two runs scored in his first Stingers start.
Improving to one and one on the season, the Stingers welcome the Duluth Huskies to town on Saturday night for the first half of a two game set. It’s Baseball Bat Night at the ballpark, presented by Perkins Lumber and KWLM. Get here early, because the first 250 kids through the gates, age 14 or younger, will recieve a full-sized wood baseball bat! For tickets, call the Stingers’ ticket office at 320-222-2010, or check out willmarstingers.com. The 2010 season is presented by Charter.