WILLMAR, Minn. – The Stingers walked off to beat the first-place St. Cloud Rox 5-4 Monday evening.

They responded to the Rox' two-run first inning when Nolan Bumstead (CS-Northridge) drove in Josh Bissonette (Baylor) for the first run of the day. With that run, they have now scored a first-inning run in 11 of their 14 games this season.

Later, when the Stingers were trailing 4-1 in the fifth inning, Bumstead drove in another run with a single up the middle. He also advanced Brady Shockey (USC) to third base, from where he was driven in by Danny Rodriguez's (Bethune-Cookman) sacrifice fly. 

It was Rodriguez's debut and first RBI as a Stinger.

In the ninth inning, trailing 4-3, Shockey got aboard with a one-out double to put the tying run in scoring position. Shockey went 2-for-5 at the plate, extending his on-base streak to 13 games.

Tonight’s Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Rob Emery (San Francisco). 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.

Emery drove in Shockey with a double off the left field wall to tie it up. That double then placed the winning run in scoring position for Nolan Bumstead (CS-Northridge). 

When Bumstead stepped up, there was one out and Myles Smith (Georgia Gwinnett) in Emery's place as a pinch runner on second. Smith advanced to third on a balk and then scored the winning run on an error by the catcher.

The Stingers won the game with a 5-4 final score and improved to 8-6 on the season. They have a 4-2 record at Bill Taunton Stadium.

On the mound, Cameron Churchill (Nova Southeastern) made his first start as a Stinger. Through five innings, he struck out six batters and gave up four earned runs. 

Following Churchill's outing, Gus Varland (Concordia-St. Paul) retired nine straight batters. In the ninth inning, Nick Mears (Sac City) then came in with three inherited runners and one out. Mears quickly prompted a 6-3 double play from his only batter, holding St. Cloud scoreless in the ninth. 

The Stingers continue their homestand with a split doubleheader Tuesday against the Eau Claire Express. Game one is scheduled for 1:05 pm and will feature Polo Portela (Sac City) on the mound in his first start as a Stinger. Then, at 7:05 p.m., the Stingers are expected to throw Luke Chevalier (Northern State) for game two against the Express. 

The evening game will be Bring Your Own Instrument Night presented by Hansen Advertising. Fans are encouraged to bring their own instrument to participate in between-inning music, and the first 250 fans receive free kazoos. Tickets are available at WillmarStingers.com or by calling the ticket 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.