Eau Claire, WI—The Stingers lose Game 4 of the series against the Express 7-3. Willmar ended the series with a 3-1 record in Eau Claire over the four games.

Masen Palmier (Missouri Baptist) toed the rubber in Game 4. He went six innings in his outing allowing two earned runs. Palmier walked two batters and struck out three. Brennan McKenzie (Pomona) got the game started in the first inning with a solo home run over the left-center fence. 1-0 Stingers. Eau Claire scored their two runs off Palmier in the third inning. Four hits scored two runs to put the Express ahead 2-1.

The next three innings were held scoreless at Carson Park. In the top of the seventh, McKenzie scored Ryan Johnson (Pepperdine) from second with a single to tie the game 2-2. Garret Herring (Southwestern Illinois) pitched the last two innings for Willmar. The Express pulled away from the Stingers in their half of the seventh. Four runs scored off five hits to increase the Express lead to 6-2. Eau Claire added another run in the eighth off two hits. 7-2 Express.

Ryan Johnson scored a run for Willmar in the top of the ninth off a McKenzie sacrifice fly out to left. That was all the Stingers were able to score in the ninth. Eau Claire took Game 4 by a final score of 7-3.

The Stingers will head back home to Bill Taunton Stadium to play the St. Cloud Rox in a two-game series. First pitch tomorrow 7:05pm CT!