WILLMAR, MN – The S’mores (The Willmar Stingers) defeated the Campfires (The La Crosse Loggers) 6-1 on “What If Night” at Bill Taunton Stadium.

The game was a pitching battle early as S’mores starter Ryan Jares and Campfires starter Drew Christo had strong showings in the first four innings. In this span, both pitched four scoreless with both only allowing three hits.

However, it was the S’mores who would break loose first in the bottom of the fifth. Outfielder Tim Pokornowski hit an RBI single sending Kyle Payne home. Pokornowski would advance two bases on wild pitches during the next at-bat. In the same at-bat, Brett Bateman would send Pokornowski home on a ground out to shortstop.

In the next inning, the S’mores would add two more thanks to a Drey Dirksen big fly to right field, and Byrne advancing home on a wild pitch. Dirksen now leads his team in slugging percentage (.815 SLG%) and on-base plus slugging (1.415 OPS).

Following that inning, Joey Walls got a free pass to first and proceeded to steal second and third. Walls then was able to cross home due to a wild pitch to make the score 5-0 in the S’mores’ favor.

The S’mores finished the game scoring in four straight innings as Payne brought Nick Terrell home on a sac fly in the eighth. The game would finish 6-1 after the Campfires were able to bring one across the plate in the top of the ninth due to a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.

The MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game was awarded to Jares. It was Jares’s first appearance on the mound this season and he was able to pitch six innings, sitting down seven, all without giving up a run.

Both relief pitchers for the S’mores didn’t give up an earned run. Logan Samuels came in the seventh and in his two innings, he complied five strikeouts. Dirksen replaced him in the ninth and threw two strikeouts of his own.

Although the S’mores are no more, the Stingers tied the series against the Loggers as Willmar captured their fourth win on the season. La Crosse now holds a record of 3-7.

The Stingers will travel to Waterloo tomorrow to take on the Bucks in a two-game series in Iowa. Tomorrow’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Riverfront Stadium.