WILLMAR, Minn. – Michael Suchy’s solo home runs in back-to-back innings helped the Stingers overcome an early 3-0 deficit and defeat the Alexandria Beetles, 5-3, at Bill Taunton Stadium Tuesday night.

Suchy’s (Florida Gulf Coast) first home run gave the Stingers their first run of the contest to lead off the second inning, while his second homer of the night broke a 3-3 tie and provided the game-winning RBI for Willmar, who now has a 1.5 game lead in the second-half standings with five games remaining in the season.

Brady Anderson (Florida Gulf Coast), who entered the game with the tying run at the plate and one out in the eighth, recorded five strikeouts in the final 1.2 innings to earn his league-best 15^th save of the year and preserve a two-run victory. Tanner Banks (Utah) picked up his second victory in as many starts after going 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out two. Andre Wheeler (Texas Tech) struck out two and only allowed one hit in 1.2 innings of middle relief.

Suchy’s franchise-record 61 RBIs rank second in the Northwoods League, while his 55 runs scored are fifth. Suchy’s 2-for-4 performance marked his third-straight multi-hit game and raised his batting average to .366, which ranks sixth in the Northwoods League. Brennan Moore (Texas Tech) went 2-for-4 as well with two separate RBI singles.

Forrestt Allday (Central Arkansas) went 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. He scored twice to increase his Northwoods League record to 64 runs scored in a single season while also adding to his Northwoods League-record total of 72 walks in a year. Allday also stole his 19^th base of the season.

Zach Benson (Stephen F. Austin) had the other hit in the contest and also walked in the fourth inning to give the Stingers yet another Northwoods League record. With Benson’s free pass, Willmar received its 334th walk of the season for the most by a team in a single year, breaking Madison’s record of 333 set in 2008.

With the victory, the Stingers now have a 1.5 game lead over the St. Cloud Rox with five games remaining. Willmar also tied Mankato for the best overall record in the North Division at 39-26.

The Stingers will begin a three-game series with Mankato Wednesday at Franklin Rogers Park at 7:05 p.m.

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.