ALEXANDRIA, MN.- In its eighth annual Beetles night, the Alexandria Beetles failed to complete a comeback on Thursday in the first of a two-game series against the St. Cloud Rox.
St. Cloud got the early advantage with two runs off of Beetles starter Clay Beaumont in the second inning.
Beaumont would be taken out of the game after the inning in place of Alex Clemons.
The Beetles tied the game up in the third with RBI singles from Kyle Payne and Stone Miyao.
Clemons allowed his only run of the game in the fifth as Matt Goetzmann singled to put the Rox back up by one.
The next inning, MinnWest Technology Campus Player of the Game Sean Rimmer tied the game up at three with one swing as he hit his fourth home run of the season.
Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Ben Irsfeld held the Rox scoreless throughout the next three innings to keep the game tied.
The game would remain tied at three to send the Beetles into their first extra-innings game of the season.
With two outs, Weber Neels would clutch up to bring in a runner and put the Rox back up.
However with the Beetles down to their final strike, Luke Williams would hit a single of his own to force an eleventh inning.
That’s where the magic ran out for the Beetles as the Rox scored via a sac fly, Alexandria came up empty to end the game and give the Rox the win.
Alexandria will now rebrand back to the Willmar Stingers as they host the Rox for the final game of the series.
For more coverage of the Stingers, visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.
The 2023 season is presented by J.D. Kreps Financial Group, empowering investors with powerful financial advice.
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The Willmar Stingers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, over 325 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.willmarstingers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Stingers as your favorite team.
