ROCHESTER, MN – The Willmar Stingers are leaving Mayo Field victorious after an 18-7 win against the Rochester Honkers Tuesday night.

The Stingers finished the game with 19 hits as every player in the starting lineup got a tally in the hit column.

Headlining the bunch was the designated hitter Elias Stevens. Stevens unloaded three home runs, one in the third, and then hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth and ninth. Willmar fan favorite, Drey Dirksen, also hit his home run in his first game of the season.

The Stingers got hot fast and had a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third until the Honkers scored five runs, punctuated by a three-run bomb from designated hitter Kimo Fukofuka.

Willmar didn’t let that phase them as they tied the game in the top of the fifth after Stevens stole home when the Honkers attempted to throw Lincoln Orellana out stealing second base.

The Stingers started to pull away in the sixth and seventh innings, where they had four players cross home due to wild pitches.

Jack Habeck came in for starter Matt Wilkinson in the bottom of the fourth and proceeded to throw five scoreless innings, striking out six and only allowing two hits.

Your MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game is Elias Stevens, who, along with his three home runs, found a way to get on base during every at-bat. In his six at-bats, the Maryville product homered three times, walked twice, and sprinkled in a single.

The Stingers return to Willmar tomorrow for their home opener against the 1-1 Eau Claire Express. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m at Bill Taunton Stadium.