EAU CLAIRE, WI – The Willmar Stingers got the better of The Eau Claire Express in extra innings tonight, 7-6.

This was the first game that concluded in extra innings for the Stingers this season. This was also the second straight game where Willmar entered the ninth inning tied with an opponent.

After taking two days off, the Stinger’s bats were hot early. In the top of the third, Willmar scored three runs thanks to RBIs from Will Safford, JT Navyac, and Brett Bateman. The Stingers increased their lead to 4-0 after Navyac was able to bring another runner home in the top of the fourth.

The Express got on the board in the bottom of the fourth and was able to tie the game after scoring in the sixth and eighth innings.

In the bottom of the eighth with the score tied at 4-4, Dylan Matela came out of the pen to try to keep the score even. Not only did he do just that, but he also got the Stingers to the end of the game. Matela pitched until the bottom of the eleventh and struck out nine batters in 3.2 innings.

The Stingers were able to capture the lead after Navyac hit a two-RBI single for his third and fourth RBIs in the top of the eleventh. Joey Walls hit an RBI double shortly after to give the Stingers a 7-4 lead. That extra run would go on to be quite important as the Express would end up scoring two in the bottom of the eleventh before recording the final out to end the game at 7-6.

For the first time this season, there were Co-MinnWest Technology Campus Players of the Game. Both Navyac and Matela were instrumental to the victory. Without Navyac’s productive hitting and Matela’s clutch finishing, the Stingers could’ve been on the wrong of a walk-off at Carson Park.

The Willmar Stingers now move to 16-11 on the year. With both the St. Cloud Rox and Mankato MoonDogs winning their games, there was no movement at the top of the Great Plains West. The Eau Claire Express now hold an identical record to the Stingers, who now only have a one-game advantage over the Duluth Huskies for the top spot in the Great Plains East.

The Stingers and Express play again in Carson Park tomorrow for the second game of their four-game series. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.