Taylor, Carlson sting Willmar

A four-RBI performance by Kevin Taylor and six innings of four-hit, shutout ball by starter Jon Carlson have the Thunder Bay Border Cats over .500 with a series victory under their belts.

Taylor hit the first homerun of his Northwoods League career on Friday, the three-run, first inning blast powering the Cats (2-1) to an easy 9-0 win over the Willmar Stingers.

Thunder Bay added singles in third and fourth, then put it away with four in the fifth, Taylor starting the rally with a single that scored David Fallong from second.

Steve Rindlebaub, Alex Guthrie and Ty Wosleger also drove in runs for the Cats, who forced Willmar starter Scott Lieser from the game in the fifth, having allowed nine runs, seven of them earned.

The Cats take on Alexandria on Friday and host Rochester on Monday in their 2011 home debut.