EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The Stingers' offense started the month of August off red hot, but that offense went quiet in a 4-0 loss to Eau Claire at Carson Park on Tuesday night. 

Express right-hander Caleb Boushley tossed eight innings of four-hit ball, and Eau Claire's second-inning run proved to be all that Boushley needed in the series opener. 

Two of Willmar's four hits came in the second inning, as Kole Cottam (Kentucky) and Travis Wacker (Oklahoma State) strung together back-to-back singles. But Brandon Perez, who carried a seven-game hitting streak into the game, had his hard hit fly ball caught in deep center field to end the frame. 

The Stingers had back-to-back innings with a lead-off baserunner in the sixth and seventh innings, but couldn't manage anything after those lead-off hitters reached. 

Despite the loss, Willmar got a strong second start from Corey Herndon (Auburn). After 4 1/3 innings his first time out, Herdon came up with a quality start on Tuesday to keep the Stingers very much in the game. He allowed just two earned runs and walked just one batter in his six innings of work with four strikeouts.

Tonight’s Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Corey Herndon. 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.

Willmar will go for the series split with Eau Claire on Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. before returning home on Thursday night for Blues Brothers Night presented by Fischer Laser Eye Center. The first 500 fans that night will receive Blues Brother sunglasses. 

The 2016 Stingers season is presented by Marcus Construction. For more coverage of the Stingers visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.