Willmar, Minn.-  After a six game road trip the Stingers returned home on Tuesday night to take on the Eau Claire Express.

The Stingers had a tough test to face in the form of Express starting pitcher Justin Slaten (New Mexico).

Before the game Slaten had gone 14 innings without giving up a single earned run. However, in the Willmar half of the fourth, Caleb Ricca (Northwestern State) hit his second home run of the season over the right field fence.

Eau Claire tied it up in the top half of the fifth inning but in the bottom half of the fifth Davis Elliot (North Alabama) came through, hitting a bloop double down the left field line scoring Cal Elvers (Miami (OH)) and putting the Stingers back up by one.

Willmar would take a four run lead in the seventh, but in the ninth Eau Claire made it interesting scoring three runs, but Jake Drew (North Dakota State) shut the door with the tying run in scoring position giving the Stingers the 5-4 victory.

Willmar will take on Eau Claire for game two tomorrow night at 7:05.

Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=441046

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.