For the first time in history, the Willmar Stingers are 3-0.

Their late rally over the Eau Claire Express, led by left fielder Caleb Ledbetter (Montevallo), brought them to a 5-3 victory.

Ledbetter hit his second home run of the season in the fifth inning, tying the game at three.

Three innings later, Ledbetter sent a single up the chute to bring in Marcus McCorkle (Georgia Gwinnett) for the go-ahead run. It was Ledbetter’s third RBI of the game.

Nolan Bumstead (CS-Northridge) continued the rally with a single that drove in Ledbetter. It was Bumstead’s third hit of the evening.

Luke Chevalier (Northern State) started on the mound, going four innings and giving up three runs to the Express.

Following his start, the Stingers bullpen came up big once again, only allowing one hit across five total innings.  The trio of Connor Jahn (Presbyterian), Nick Lackney (Minnesota), and Stone Kelly (Georgia Gwinnett) only allowed three batters to reach base.

Kelly was awarded the win with his two-inning effort. It is his first win with the Stingers.

Tonight’s Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Caleb Ledbetter. 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 move to 3-0 on the season for the first time in the team's eight year history. Dating back to 2014, they are 17-8 overall and 10-3 at home against Eau Claire.

The Stingers and the Express will play again at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Bill Taunton Stadium. For tickets, visit willmarstingers.com or call the Stingers’ office at 320-222-2010. 

The 2017 Stingers season is presented by Marcus Construction. For more coverage of the Stingers, visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.