MADISON, Wis. — The Stingers got another quality start from Corey Binger, but the Madison Mallards scored twice in the eighth inning to tip Willmar 5-4 in the series opener at Warner Park on Monday night. 

The Stingers (37-30, 19-12 second half) took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth on a three-run homer by Quincy McAfee (Pepperdine), but couldn't stave the Mallards eighth inning rally off, as their four-game winning streak came to an end. 

The Mallards (43-24, 20-11) came into the game on a seven-game winning streak and started out strong with two runs in the first off of Binger. But the right-hander out of Nebraska Omaha settled in nicely after that, allowing just one more run in his final six innings of work. Binger yielded just one walk in his seven innings and finished with two strikeouts on six hits. 

After being quieted in the early going, the Stingers offense came alive in the fourth inning to get on the board. Danny Pardo (Montevallo) singled to lead off the frame, moved to second on Justin Toerner's single, and then advanced to third on a wild pitch with Eddie Estrada (Minnesota) at the plate. Estrada then folllowed with a single to get the Stingers within a run at 2-1. 

The Mallards got the run back in the bottom of the fourth, but the Stingers immediately answered to take the lead in the fifth. Danny Palmiscno (North Dakota State) led off the inning by reaching on an error and Luke Becker (Kentucky) then singled. McAfee came to the plate and promptly crushed a homer over the left field wall to put the Stingers up. 

The Mallards tied the score in the eighth with back-to-back doubles and took the lead for good on a wild pitch. 

Tonight’s Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Corey Binger. 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 Stingers have Tuesday off before the series finale with the Mallards at 7:05 p.m. 

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.