Willmar, Minn.- The Willmar Stingers battled the St. Cloud Rox on Sunday for the final time during the 2018 regular season. The matchup took place just 16 hours after a 14 inning contest that saw the Willmar Stingers defeat the Rox on a walk-off double from John Trousdale (Alabama).

Corey Binger (MSU-Mankato) was on the mound for the Stingers and went 5.2 innings, struck out two and allowed just two earned runs.

Willmar offensively traded blows with the Rox starting with a Jayson Newman (Cal-State Northridge) solo homer over the right field fence in the second tying the game at one.

In the sixth inning Trousdale continued to damage Rox pitching. Trousdale in the inning hit a sacrifice fly giving the Stingers a 2-1 lead. The Rox responded in the inning and tied it back up at two.

In the seventh the Rox took the lead and led the Stingers 3-2 heading into the eighth inning. Willmar responded in the eighth putting up a four spot highlighted by a Newman RBI double. Willmar took a 6-3 lead.

Newman continued to have a stellar day, coming on for a five out save and inheriting a bases loaded with one out situation in the bottom of the eighth.  Newman got out of the inning and earned the save for the Stingers.  The Stingers defeated the Rox 6-3 and took six out of eight from the Rox on the season.

With the win and a Duluth Huskies’ loss the Stingers head into the All Star break all alone atop the North Division.

The 2018 Stingers season is presented by Marcus Construction. For more coverage of the Stingers visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.