LA CROSSE, Wis. – Nick Lackney (Minnesota) looked strong for the second start in a row tonight in La Crosse, leading the Stingers to a thrilling 1-0 victory and a 4-3 record on the second half.

Tonight, he finished the game after 7 2/3 innings, not surrendering a single run and striking out eight Loggers.

By the time he exited, he had just snapped a streak of nine straight batters retired and 17 of 18 in a row. He was replaced after 87 total pitches by Calvin Coker (Auburn) who picked up a 1 1/3 inning save, the first of his season.

Coker gave up one hit and faced five batters in his outing.  

Pitching coach Bo Henning suggested Lackney’s altered arm slot was a big reason for his success on the mound. Since altering his slot, he has now recorded two straight wins toward a 2-1 record on the season.

Henning also added catcher Tyler Murray (Hawai’i) contributed to Lackney’s lights-out evening. “Murray and Lackney were right on the same page all night. Working quickly and working efficiently," he said. "They won that game together."

In addition to Murray’s work behind the plate, he had a double in the seventh inning.

Today's Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Nick Lackney. CDI is your local medical imaging provider. It’s your choice where you go for medical imaging, for MRI, CT, mammograms and pain injections, choose CDI. Visit online at myCDI.com/CentralMN.

At the plate, the Stingers scored one run on La Crosse’s All-Star starter Derek Beauprez. In the second inning, Brady Shockey (USC) drove in Nolan Bumstead (CS-Northridge) with a double.

The Stingers move to 4-3 on the second half and 22-21 overall. Tomorrow, they return home to complete the home-and-home series with the Loggers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

The 2017 Stingers season is presented by Marcus Construction. For more coverage of the Stingers, visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.

Photo credit Curt Hogg (WCTrib)