WILLMAR, MN – After a rainout on Monday the Stingers played two against the Bismarck Larks on Tuesday, splitting the pair.

In game one, the offense came alive, winning 12-7 in comeback fashion.

After falling behind 5-0, Willmar’s offense came alive in the third, striking for three runs, highlighted by a Liam Bushey (Western Illinois) 2-RBI single.

Then they took the lead in the 4th with five more runs, four of which coming on 2-RBI singles from Max Buettenback (Nebraska) and Brett Blair (Stanford).

The Stingers added to their lead in the 6th with three more runs, two of which coming on a Jordan Kuhnau (South Dakota State) triple and Hemponix Relief Pitcher of the Game Brett Barfield (Georgia Tech) closed things down.

Game two was a different story as a back and forth battle saw the Larks on top at the end by a score of 14-10.

Willmar again fell behind in the first, this time 2-0.

Down 3-1 in the 4th, Hayden Lewis (Nebraska) sparked a rally with a solo home run, and Willmar eventually tied it at 3.

With the score 6-3 in the 6th, Willmar answered with two runs of their own, the second coming on a Dariel Osoria (Kansas) RBI single.

Down 6-5 in the bottom of the 6th, the Stingers rallied for four runs, capped off by a Max Buettenback 2-run home run.

The Larks though had an answer, scoring 8 in the top of the 7th and taking the win.

The Stingers travel to Saint Cloud on Wednesday to open up a four game series with the Rox.

For more coverage of the Stingers, visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com. The 2024 season is presented by J.D. Kreps Financial Group, empowering investors with powerful financial advice.

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. Entering its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 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 350 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 (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and two-time All-MLB first team 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.