Steady Eddie: Estrada's Big Game Leads Stingers Past Border Cats
July 1, 2016 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
Willmar Stingers Pitcher Eddie Estrada
(Willmar Stingers)
THUNDER BAY, Ont. - The Willmar Stingers' offense has had some of its best games over the course of the last week, and it added to that list on Friday afternoon in an 11-4 win over Thunder Bay at Port Arthur Stadium.
Eddie Estrada (Minnesota) went 4-for-5 and tied a Stingers single-game high for 2016 with five RBIs, and Blake Stockert (North Dakota State) won his third game with six sharp innings of five-hit ball to even the four-game series with the Border Cats at a win apiece.
The recent uptick of the Stingers' offense has also been mirrored by strong starts, and that was the case in game two against the Border Cats (5-26).
After a two-run first in the sereis opener, Willmar (15-17) scored four times in the first inning on Friday and never looked back the rest of the way. Danny Pardo (Montevallo) and Greg Lambert (Southern Illinois) each singled with one out in the first, and Danny Mayer (Pacific) doubled both home. Following a walk to Luke Becker, Estrada mashed a double to the gap in right-center field to plate Mayer and Becker and make it a quick 4-0 edge.
Pitching with the early lead, Stockert had little issue against the Border Cats. Stockert faced the minimum in three of his six innings, striking out six.
By the time Stockert allowed his only run in the fourth inning, the Stingers had already built a 6-0 lead. Tyler Smith (Pepperdine) doubled and scored in the second, and Estrada doubled and scored in the fourth.
Estrada's hot day at the dish continued with a opposite field, two-run homer in the fifth inning to make it 8-1. Estrada finished with nine total bases and just a triple shy of the cycle, the former tying a single-game high for the Stingers this summer.
Willmar added two runs in the seventh and another in the eighth, scoring in six of the nine innings to top Thunder Bay.
The Stingers continue the four-game set with the Border Cats on Saturday with a 5:05 p.m. CT first pitch in Thunder Bay.
Images from this story
 Willmar Stingers Pitcher Eddie Estrada |
Northwoods League Stories from July 1, 2016
- Rafters Sweep Bullfrogs, Widen Division Lead - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Bullfrogs Unable to Comeback against Rafters After Falling Behind Early - Green Bay Rockers
- Bombers Sweep Kingfish in Kenosha - Kenosha Kingfish
- 'Chucks Fall to Duluth in Extras - Wausau Woodchucks
- Pitching and Baserunning Leads Rox Past Loggers - St. Cloud Rox
- Bucks Fall in Series Finale, 4-1 - Waterloo Bucks
- Jipping's Homerun the Differe Nce as the Bombers Defeat Kenosha 7-5 - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Battle Creek Bombers Top the Kenosha Kingfish, 7-5 - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Honkers Can't Catch Express in Eau Claire - Rochester Honkers
- Rivets fall after Growlers attack early - Rockford Rivets
- 2016 Jersey Auction Presented by Thrivent Financial - Willmar Stingers
- Steady Eddie: Estrada's Big Game Leads Stingers Past Border Cats - Willmar Stingers
- Mallards Attempt to Keep Pace in Division Race - Madison Mallards
- Rafters Host Final Home Game of First Half, Look for Sweep - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Bullfrogs Look to Rebound against Rafters - Green Bay Rockers
- 'Chucks Drop First to Duluth - Wausau Woodchucks
- Border Cats Out-Slug Stingers in Series Opener - Willmar Stingers
- Bombers Edge Kingfish 8-6 - Kenosha Kingfish
- College World Series Vet Homers Twice in Home Debut as Rivets Win - Rockford Rivets
- Battle Creek Bombers Top Kenosha Kingfish, 8-6 - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
