Willmar, MN—The Stingers drop the first game of a two-game series to the Rox 5-3. This series could be a preview to the playoffs as the Rox are first in the Great Plains West Division.

Trevor Divinski (Minn. State-Mankato) was the starter on the mound for the Stingers. He pitched six innings, allowing two runs, off six hits. Divinski walked one batter while striking out six.

It was a back-and-forth game at Bill Taunton Stadium as the Stingers tied the game up two separate times. The Rox scored first in the top of the second inning. In the third, Daniel Walsh (Western Carolina) scored on a sacrifice fly from Baier to tie the game at 1-1. St. Cloud reclaimed the lead in the fourth when two hits put the Rox up 2-1. Tyler Bosetti (Nevada) tied the game up at two runs apiece with one swing of the bat. His solo home run in the fifth tied the game at 2-2.

Casey Dykstra (Azusa Pacific) pitched the last three innings for the Stingers. He pitched a scoreless seven and eighth inning. In the ninth, the Rox tallied three runs, off two hits, and one Stinger error. The Stingers were unwilling to go down without a fight. Willmar loaded the bases in their half of the ninth, but only brought one run across. The final score was 5-3 Rox.

The Stingers will head to Joe Faber Field tomorrow in St. Cloud to face the Rox in Game 2 of the series. First pitch 7:05pm CT!