Bucks Edge Stingers in Extras for Series Finale Win
June 24, 2016 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
WILLMAR, Minn. - The Stingers have had a knack for exciting finishes so far this season, and Friday night was no exception.
Willmar and the Waterloo Bucks went back and forth in the series finale and eventually went to extra innings, as the Bucks managed to top the Stingers 9-5 at Bill Taunton Stadium.
The Stingers (11-13) fell behind in the first inning, but orchestrated a comeback in the fourth inning to take the lead.
After Waterloo (16-7) tied the game at three in the fifth, Willmar again responded to take the lead back in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Bucks eventually tied the game once more in the eighth inning, and a 10th inning grand slam from Adam McGinnis proved to be the difference.
Willmar's pitching staff held the Bucks' offense at bay throughout the night, with four Stingers' pitchers combining to strand 13 players on base. Part of that effort was Willmar starter Blake Stockert's performance in the first inning, an inning that saw him strand the bases loaded with the use of three strikeouts.
Stockert (North Dakota State) allowed just one run on four hits in four innings of work with six strikeouts, and kept the Stingers right with the Bucks through the early going.
That performance by Stockert allowed Willmar to take its first lead of the night in the fourth inning when the Stingers scored three times. Justin Toerner (Cal State Northridge) doubled home the first run of the inning to tie the game, while Brandon Perez (USC) walked to force in a run and Cole Gray (Midland) had a sac fly later in the inning.
After a two-run fifth for the Bucks, the Stingers jumped right back out in front with a two-run inning of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Kole Cottam (Kentucky), Eddie Estrada (Minnesota) and Perez all reached to start the inning, and Tyler Smith (Pepperdine) singled to drive in Cottam and Estrada to give Willmar a 5-3 lead.
Cottam finished the night 2-for-4 at the dish for his third multi-hit game of the season and also scored a pair of runs.
Willmar now heads on the road for a three-game road trip, and will face La Crosse tomorrow night at 6:05 p.m. at Copeland Park.
Northwoods League Stories from June 24, 2016
- McGinnisâ??s extra-innings slam lifts Bucks to 9-5 win - Waterloo Bucks
- Rox Hang on for 10th Straight Win over La Crosse - St. Cloud Rox
- Rally Comes Too Late as Mallards Fall to Woodchucks - Madison Mallards
- Bucks Edge Stingers in Extras for Series Finale Win - Willmar Stingers
- Bullfrogs Win a Thriller in Extras against the Growlers - Green Bay Rockers
- 'Chucks Sweep Two in Madison - Wausau Woodchucks
- Kingfish Squeak out 2-1 Road Win - Kenosha Kingfish
- Loggers lose 7-5 - La Crosse Loggers
- 'Chucks Lead After Seven Innings in Madison - Wausau Woodchucks
- Battle Creek Bombers Top the Rochester Honkers, 3-2 - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Battle Creek Scores in 8th to Defeat Honkers - Rochester Honkers
- Bullfrogs Finish Four Game Road Trip against the Growlers - Green Bay Rockers
- Bucks Bike Ride Set for July 17 - Waterloo Bucks
- Brockhouse Ready to Shine for Home Crowd - Madison Mallards
- Dubsky Named NWL Pitcher of the Night - St. Cloud Rox
- First-Place Rafters Look for Sweep - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Growlers Plan to Sell out Kalamazoo Strong Night - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Cooper and Fisher Lead Rafters to Win over Rivets - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Three Home Runs Not Enough as Mallards Fall to Woodchucks - Madison Mallards
- Rox Dominant in Ninth Straight Win - St. Cloud Rox
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