EAU CLAIRE, WI – The Willmar Stingers set a new record tonight with their win against the Eau Claire Express, 5-4.

The Stingers have won their franchise-record ninth-straight ballgame. The previous record of eight was broken tonight at the home of the Express, Carson Park.

Willmar got started right away scoring three in the top of the first. The first run would come home when Jakob Christian hit his fifth double of the year. The following two runs would come shortly after when Nick Terrell drove in two runs on a single. The Express would respond in the bottom of the first with a sac fly from Joe Yorke, 3-1.

No more runs would score until the ninth inning as both teams went through seven innings scoreless. The Stingers would get two runs in the top of the ninth on an error and a wild pitch. Those runs proved to be quite valuable as Eau Claire scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to put the game within one. The Stingers were able to get the final out and win 5-4.

The MinnWest Technology Player of the Game was Steven Brooks. Brooks pitched six innings and gave up one run while striking out six. After giving up the run in the bottom of the first, he held Eau Claire scoreless in the next five innings en route to his third win of the season. Mitch Gutknecht replaced him in the top of the seventh and threw a three-inning save.

The Stingers, who have won 17 of their past 18 games, look to continue to be the hottest team in the Northwoods League tomorrow when the Bismarck Larks come in for a two-game series at the BeeHive. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.