Willmar, Minn.—The Stingers dominate the Loggers in Game 1 of the series 12-2. The Stingers have not had a blowout victory like that since the first half.

Masen Palmier (Missouri Baptist) gave the Stingers the start they needed tonight. He threw seven innings while allowing two runs. Palmier gave up five hits, three walks, and struck out seven batters.

The Stingers started the game by scoring two runs in each of the first three innings. Sam Baier (Augustana, SD) took the first pitch and drove it over the left-center fence. The next inning, Branden Boissiere (Arizona) had a two out, two-run double that scored Baier and Ry. Johnson. The Loggers broke up the Stingers’ scoring when they put up a run, off two hits, in the third. Brandon Bohning continued the two-run trend in the third when he launched a two-run home run over the left field fence. 6-1 Stingers.

The Loggers got their second run of the game in the fifth off a balk with a runner on third. Willmar answered with a run of their own in the sixth off two La Crosse errors. 7-2 Stingers. Willmar had their biggest inning of the game in the seventh. Four base runners touched home off four hits. The Stinger offense was led by Fowler, Gamble, and Baier. 11-2 Stingers.

Josh Wintroub (Augustana, IL) made his Stingers debut tonight as he pitched the last two innings of the game. He allowed one hit through two scoreless innings. The Stingers scored one more run in the eighth when James Gamble (UNLV) scored King on a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

The final score of the game was 12-2 in favor of Willmar. Game 2 will be at Bill Taunton Stadium tomorrow. First pitch 7:05pm CT!