THUNDER BAY – A trio of four-run inning did the Thunder Bay Border Cats in against the Willmar Stingers on Sunday night.
The host Stingers put up four in the first inning to erase an early 2-0 Thunder Bay lead, then, clinging to a one-run lead through four, scored four in the fifth and four more in the sixth to put away a 13-4 win in front of 1,248.
No. 9 hitter Grant Sonke had a three-run homer in the fifth and drove in four runs. No. 7 hitter Jordan Kuhnau was 3-for-5 with three RBI and No. 8 hitter Brock Larsen, the Stingers catcher, had a 2-for-4 night, also driving in three.
Lucas Johnson had an RBI single in the first to open the scoring and Trey Fikes followed with a sacrifice fly, giving the Border Cats their only lead of the night.
Cats starter Jimmy Cerha (0-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks over three innings. Relievers Tyler Talbert and Jackson Irwin were also touched up for four runs apiece.
Willmar starter Ian Senga went seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out four.
All 13 Stingers runs, coming on 11 hits, nine walks and four hit batters, were earned.
The loss drops Thunder Bay below .500 at 3-4., tied for third in the Great Plains East Division. The Stingers, second in the Great Plains West, improved to 5-1 on the season.
The two teams meet again on Monday.
The Border Cats return home on Tuesday night to host the Duluth Huskies.
