Order up Offense Dishes out 20 Hits in Victory
Published on July 1, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
WILLMAR, Minn. - The Stingers offense returned to form against Rochester with a resounding 18-2 win. The battery came from nearly every Stinger who batted and came at a crucial point in the season. With the win, Willmar (20-11) is only one game out of first place with four games left to try and overtake the Waterloo Bucks to earn a playoff berth from the first half of the season.
In total, Willmar collected 20 hits, easily outpacing the previous high-water mark of 16. Six players recorded multi-hit games with Zack Tillery's (Florida Gulf Coast) four hits leading the way. Seven Stingers drove in runs and each starter finished the game with a hit. The staggering offensive showcase boosted the team batting average from .261 to .270.
The offensive downpour was just in time for the team in general, but also for starting pitcher Max Homick. Homick (San Diego) made his third start of the season, but despite his solid 3.60 ERA he had been tagged with losses in his first two outings. Tonight, Homick had plenty of run support by the time he took the mound in the third inning as Willmar had just posted an 8-run frame in the bottom of the 2nd.
Homick was sharp on the mound, retiring the first nine batters in order, striking out seven in total and earning the honors as CDI player of the game. The left hander lowered his season ERA to 3.18 while scattering two runs and four hits over the course of his seven innings.
Nick Bates made his first appearance out of the bullpen, striking out three batters in 2.0 innings. Bates and his fellow St. Louis Billikens Alec Sol̮̩ and Danny Brennan all turned in exceptional games. Sol̮̩ finished 3-for-5, driving in four runs and raising his average from .227 to .265 while Brennan finished 2-for-4 with his 3rd double of the season and a pair of RBI, raising his season total to 11.
Making the offensive breakout even more outstanding is the fact that the Stingers hung the loss on Logan Spitzack of Rochester. Spitzack was chased after loading the bases in the second inning and was eventually responsible for six earned runs. Coming into the game, the right hander boasted a 1.35 ERA in 26.2 innings pitched whereas his ERA is now at 3.25.
Tomorrow marks the rubber match for this series between Rochester and the Stingers. Willmar will turn to newcomer Andrew Woeck (NC State) to try and capture the win. Tomorrow night is "Veteran's Appreciation Night" presented by Central Lakes Cooperative and Uncommon USA and there will be fireworks after the game.
NOTES: Marc Flores (Hawaii) and Max Kuhn (Kentucky) both collected RBI to continue as team leaders with 26 and 22, respectively. Willmar has scored the most runs in the NWL (196).The Stingers' team slugging percentage (.400) is the second-best in the NWL. Willmar's home record (12-5) is tops in the NWL.
Northwoods League Stories from July 1, 2013
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- Woodchucks' timely hitting propels them past Express 4-2 - Wausau Woodchucks
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- A Canada Day Win - Thunder Bay Border Cats
- Mallards Close Out Three-Game Series At Battle Creek Tonight - Madison Mallards
- Former Thunder Bay Border Cat Jonathan Diaz Called Up by Red Sox - Thunder Bay Border Cats
- Order up Offense Dishes out 20 Hits in Victory - Willmar Stingers
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