Stingers Fend off Rox in 6-5 Victory
June 16, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
ST. CLOUD, MINN. - It was the epitome of a team effort. The pitching was not as dominant, the bats did not have the same pop, but the Stingers made enough plays to upend the St. Cloud Rox in a 6-5 victory. Up and down the lineup, Willmar (11-5) received contributions from everyone and withstood a late rally by St. Cloud (8-10) to assume the mantle as the top team in the Northwoods League.
The win gives the Stingers the league's highest winning percentage and matches the team's best winning streak of the season. The third straight win, however, was not without its challenges.
Michael Murray (Florida Gulf Coast) breezed through the first nine batters in order. Murray brought his ERA down more than two full runs to 6.55 and struck out four without issuing a single walk. However, when he encountered trouble in the home half of the fourth inning, allowing two consecutive hits that cut into the Stingers lead, he was replaced by Colin Poche (Arkansas). Poche impressed in his 2.1 innings pitched, logging three strikeouts keyed by a fastball that consistently zipped past the bats of would-be Rox hitters.
After Poche was charged with two runs that cut the Willmar lead to 4-3, Bobby McCormack (Baylor) steadied the proverbial ship in his sixth outing of the season. McCormack retired all four of the batters he faced and was relieved by Cody Hughes who struck out two batters to end the eighth inning.
In the ninth inning St. Cloud mounted its last gasp effort to claim victory, but Bret Dahlson recovered from a pair of doubles and a walk to earn his third save of the season.
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- Stingers Fend off Rox in 6-5 Victory - Willmar Stingers
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