Willmar, Minn.- For the first time in 2018 the Willmar Stingers were defeated, the loss coming at the hands of the Thunder Bay Border Cats on Thursday night.

Things started out well for the Stingers who were leading the Border Cats 2-0 after a two run fourth inning behind the bats of John Trousdale (Alabama), Zach Mathis (Delta College) and Richie Garcia (Florida Gulf Coast). Trousdale started the inning with a double, Mathis followed by singling up the middle and advancing Trousdale to third. Garcia, the next man up hit a sac-fly to center field scoring Trousdale and making it 1-0. Later in the inning, Cal Elvers (Miami (OH)) the designated hitter made one of the stranger plays of the game. Elvers drilled a ball to deep left field hitting the top of the wall and bouncing straight up. Initially it was ruled a home run but later the ruling was changed after discussion, and the decision was that the ball had bounced back into play and never over the fence. Mathis scored on the play but instead of a 3-0 Willmar lead, it was 2-0.

In the sixth Thunder Bay finally got a run across. After Willmar starter Trevor Divinski (Minnesota State) hit Border Cats’ second baseman Nick Conti (Eckerd College) with two outs. Divinski allowed a single to right off the bat of Evan Russell (Tennessee), the ball was misplayed by right fielder Davis Elliot (North Alabama) allowing Conti to score making it 2-1.

Stingers manager Bo Henning would make a pitching change bringing in Bryant Claunch (North Alabama). Facing his first batter of the night Brady Gulakowski (NC State), Claunch threw a wild pitch allowing Evan Russell to score.

In the 7th another error would prove costly as the Border Cats tallied an unearned go-ahead run.

The Stingers only mustered three hits on the night and committed three errors, falling to Thunder Bay 3-2.

The Stingers now have a record of 2-1 and will face Thunder Bay in the series finale tomorrow night.

The 2018 Stingers season is presented by Marcus Construction. For more coverage of the Stingers visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.