Twice as Nice: Stingers Walk off for Second Straight Night
Published on July 31, 2014 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
WILLMAR, Minn. - Lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place, but don't tell that to the Stingers. For the second straight night Willmar rallied in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. After winning the previous night in the same inning, the Stingers waited one inning longer, and in the bottom of the 10th Frankie Rios singled with the bases loaded to send Willmar to the 5-4 triumph.
Willmar (41-22 overall, 19-14 second half) started the game off slow against Rochester starter Matt Kent, who came in with the lowest ERA in the league, but over the course of six innings slowly warmed. Trailing by three going to the bottom of the sixth, Willmar finally got on the board with some costly defensive play by the Honkers. Max Ayoub led off the inning with his third double in his last two games, but ended up getting put out at third when Max Dutto tried to advance him to third on a sacrifice bunt. However, Matt Stubbs who had walked in between Ayoub and Dutto, moved to second on the play and then came into score the first run of the inning.
Stingers' starter AJ Puckett allowed one more run in the top of the seventh, but still finished the night with a splendid outing, yielding only seven hits and two earned runs while fanning five. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Willmar backed up their starter with two runs against Jeff Campbell to cut the deficit to just one. Reagan Fowler singled to start the inning and got doubled home by Brett Barbier, who came into score later when Max Ayoub reached on an error at first.
The score remained the same until the ninth inning, where the Stingers came up big for the second straight night. In his first game as a Stinger, Stubbs doubled to lead off the inning. Brady Anderson pinch ran for the Stingers, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a wild pitch with Sean Beesley at the plate.
Willmar waited an inning longer to dash the hope of the Honkers (33-29, 14-14), and loaded the bases with no one out for Rios. Rios then drove in the game winner after getting the game-tying hit a night before.
The 2014 Stingers' season is presented by Charter. For more coverage of the Stingers head to www.wctrib.com.
Tonight's Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Jack Ross. CDI is your local medical imaging provider. It's your choice where you go for medical imaging, for MRI, CT, mammograms and pain injections, choose CDI. Visit online at myCDI.com/CentralMN.
Northwoods League Stories from July 31, 2014
- Ninth Inning Rally Comes up Short as Rox Fall to Bucks - St. Cloud Rox
- Twice as Nice: Stingers Walk off for Second Straight Night - Willmar Stingers
- The Stingers Defeat the Honkers in Extras at Willmar, 5-4 - Rochester Honkers
- Mallards Fall to Kingfish, 4-3 - Madison Mallards
- Kingfish Top Mallards 4-3 - Kenosha Kingfish
- Anchors Dropped by Eau Claire - Alexandria Blue Anchors
- Woodchucks Power Past Chinook - Wausau Woodchucks
- Bullfrogs Silence Growlers in Extra Innings - Green Bay Rockers
- Growlers Fall to Bullfrogs in Extra Innings - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Kingfish Playoff Tickets on Sale Wednesday, August 6th at 9:00 a.m. - Kenosha Kingfish
- Rafters Head North of the Border - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Bullfrogs Continue to Make Community Involvement Top Priority - Green Bay Rockers
- Mallards Begin Integral Two Game Series with Kingfish - Madison Mallards
- MoonDogs Fit Program Nearing a Close - Mankato MoonDogs
- Bullfrogs Return to Michigan for Two against Growlers - Green Bay Rockers
- Rafters and Marshfield Clinic to Host Free Kids Clinic at Witter Field - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Anchors Earn Split with Willmar on Wednesday - Alexandria Blue Anchors
- Rafters Drop Suspended Game, Sweep Doubleheader - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Rox Fall to MoonDogs in Wednesday Night Contest - St. Cloud Rox
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