DULUTH, Minn. – The Stingers recorded their first shutout victory of the season with an 8-0 win Friday evening.

The Stingers scored a run in the first inning for the ninth time in eleven games. They now have a total of 17 first-inning runs in 2017. 

At the plate, the Stingers were led by Caleb Ledbetter (Montevallo) and Eddie Estrada (Minnesota), who both had two RBI. The Stingers only struck out three times in the evening.

In the third inning, the Stingers scored three more runs on four hits. Rob Emery (San Francisco) hit a double in the inning, and eventually scored one of his three runs in the evening.

Marcus Still (New Mexico State) had two singles and two walks. He stole two bases as well, increasing his total to 11 on the season, which leads the Northwoods League.

Brady Shockey (USC) extended his hit streak to ten games with a ninth-inning single. He was one of three Stingers to score in the ninth, which put them to a total of eight runs in the game.

Tonight’s Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Blake Stockert. 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.

Stockert threw six innings and gave up four hits in his second start of the season. It was the second time he pitched against the Huskies at Wade Stadium, and he struck out four batters in his shutout effort.

Following Stockert's outing, Cameron Churchill (Nova Southeastern) made his first appearance as a Stinger. He retired the Huskies in order in the seventh inning. Braxton Johns (East Georgia) and Alex Reyes (New Mexico State) also appeared in the game. Each pitcher picked up a strikeout, and they combined to only allow one hit.

The Stingers are now 6-5 on the season. They are 2-1 against the Huskies, with all three contests occurring in Duluth.

Nick Lackney (Minnesota) is expected to make his second start on the mound Saturday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. and you can listen live for free at WillmarStingers.com.

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.