Michael Suchy drove in three runs on Saturday night as the Willmar Stingers denied the Border Cats a shot at .500.
Suchy homered with one on in the first to set the Willmar offence rolling, then drove home Mitch Rown in the second as the Stingers took an early 5-1 lead en route to a 6-2 win.
The Cats (8-10) got RBI from Omar Cotto and Scott Donley, but the early offence was not enough for Thunder Bay to overcome the rough start turned in by Coley Bruns.
Bruns lasted just one full inning, surrendering five hits and two runs before leaving the game in favour of Thunder Bay’s Kurtis McCallum.
McCallum lasted five innings in relief and was touched for four runs on four hit and three walks.
The series continues on Sunday.