St. Cloud, MN — The Willmar Stingers (3-7) won 15-6 in dominating fashion on the road against the St. Cloud Rox (8-2), thanks in part to a nine-run fourth inning. The win snapped a three-game losing skid against this same St. Cloud Squad.
Willmar grabbed a 1-0 lead after Merrick Rapoza started the scoring at the top of the 2nd with an RBI double to left center to drive in Ian McCubbin. In the bottom part of the second, Carter Heinsch evened the score at 1 for St. Cloud with a sac-fly RBI to bring in Jackson Legg.
The fourth inning saw the Stingers put together their best offensive inning of the season. It all started with a David Estrada RBI double to drive in Jayton Greer. Noah Massey brought home McCubbin on an RBI groundout, and the score was 3-1 in favor of the visitors. Rox starter Jacob Galloway was then removed from the game for Addison Walker.
The next batter was Cooper Wood, who belted a two-run double to right field to bring home Estrada and Nate Stiveson. Next, Brooks Wright picked up an RBI of his own, and Willmar led 6-1. A couple of batters later, Greer got in on the hit party with a two-run double. Wright and Panganiban scored, and it was 8-1 Willmar. McCubbin and Estrada each drove in another run, and the Stingers were in front 10-1.
The totals for the inning included nine runs, eight hits, and a streak of seven consecutive batters to reach safely.
Nate Stiveson led off the eighth inning with a solo shot for his first home run in a Stingers uniform. The team would add three more runs in the phrame and one in the ninth. St. Cloud put up four runs in the bottom of the ninth before Willmar won 15-6.
All nine Willmar batters recorded a base hit, and the team finished with 19 in total. Six different players recorded multi-hit games, including Estrada, Greer, and Wright, who all had logged three base knocks. The winning pitcher for the Stingers was Riley Hasenstab, who replaced starter Joe Trenerry in the third. Hasenstab’s final stat line was three innings, zero runs, three walks, and four strikeouts.
The Stingers will be back at home tomorrow night at 6:35 p.m. against the Mankato MoonDogs. It is Summer St. Patty’s Night presented by Quist Wealth Management at Bill Taunton Stadium.
Visit willmarstingers.com or call 320-222-2010 to reserve your seats today. The 2026 season is presented by J.D. Kreps Financial Group, empowering investors with powerful financial advice.
About the Willmar Stingers:
The Willmar Stingers are a member of the Northwoods League, the premier summer collegiate baseball league in North America. The Stingers provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment while showcasing the top college baseball talent from across the country.
For more information about the Willmar Stingers, visit willmarstingers.com or contact the front office (320)222-2010 or info@willmarstingers.com
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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 entering its’ 33rd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 415 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 two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (BAL) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (NYM). League games are viewable live on FloSports.tv.