WILLMAR, MN – The series between the Saint Cloud Rox and Stingers shifted back to Willmar on Thursday, and saw the Stingers lose a back and forth battle 7-6.

Saint Cloud got on the board in the 1st to go up 1-0.

Willmar answered right back though, with Hayden Lewis (Nebraska) delivering a 2-out RBI single to tie things up.

The Stingers then took the lead in the 2nd as Jack Spanier (Minnesota) singled, stole 2nd, advanced to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch.

After the Rox tied it again at two, Willmar again took the lead in the 5th on a Liam Bushey (Western Illinois) RBI single, going up 3-2.

From there, the Rox took a stranglehold on things, scoring five unanswered making things 7-3 going into the bottom on the 9th.

Willmar rallied for three, including a 2-RBI double from Brett Blair (Stanford), but it was too little, too late and the Rox escaped with the win.

Willmar heads to Saint Cloud on Friday night with first pitch at 7:05 pm.

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.