Rochester, Minn. — The top of the Stingers batting order is not for the faint of heart. 

After Saturday night's performance in Rochester, it's probably best to avoid Willmar's top four at all costs. Sean Beesley hit his first career grand slam as a Stinger, and the top four in the order combined to score seven times and drive in nine runs in a 10-5 win over the Honkers at Mayo Field to take sole possession of first place in the North Division. 

It was Willmar's resilient offense that helped propel the Stingers back from an early deficit and to their eighth win in their last ten games. The Stingers (15-9) scored first in the first inning, but Rochester answered with a three-run home run in the bottom half of the frame. But as had happened the night before, Willmar came right back after being scored on to take the lead for good. The Stingers loaded up the bases in the top of the second inning and then Sean Beesley blasted his first home run of his season, a grand slam over the left-field wall to put the Stingers right back on top. 

After allowing the home run in his first inning of work, Stingers starter Bradley Bailey came back strong and battled the rest of the way, surrendering just one more run in his five total innings of work. 

From there, the bullpen took over and the offense kept the pedal to the floor. Dan Motl tacked on another run in the top half of the fourth when he hit his first home run of the year, which was a solo shot to extend the lead to 6-3. Then two innings later, the Stingers put up another three thanks to some conventional small ball. Billy Quirke reached on a fielder's choice and Beesley and Motl followed with walks to load the bases for Storm Wilson. Wilson promptly singled through the right side to bring in Quirke and Motl, and Ky Parrott followed with a sac fly to bring in the Stingers' ninth run. 

The Honkers managed to get one run back in the eighth inning, but Colton Boucher came out of the bullpen for Willmar and stranded the bases loaded to keep the Stingers in control. They would add that lone run back in the ninth inning to bring the advantage back to five runs. 

Willmar now heads to Duluth for two games before returning to the Beehive Tuesday. 

The 2015 season is presented by Marcus Construction. For more coverage of the Stingers visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.

Tonight’s Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Sean Beesley. CDI is your local medical imaging provider. It’s your choice where you go for medical imaging, for MRI, CT, mammograms and pain injections, choose CDI. Visit online at myCDI.com/CentralMN.

The Willmar Stingers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.willmarstingers.com.