HUTCHINSON -- Willmar delivered the early knockdown punches but Hutchinson won the late rounds to earn a 9-8 decision over the visiting Cardinals on Tuesday.
A bloop single over the shortstop drove in the game-ending run in the bottom of the seventh.
Willmar led 8-1 after five innings, but the Tigers took over, scoring five in the sixth and three more in the seventh.
The Cardinals (7-11) opened with a double by leadoff hitter Josh Oesterich followed by RBI hits from third baseman Jordan Smith, catcher John Sawatzky and pitcher Alex Malmgren, the later two producing two runs each.
Malmgren gave up one run (unearned) through five. But the Tigers got to him in the sixth for four hits to start the late rally.
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Smith relieved Justin Hamann in the seventh with two out and Ben Aalfs on base. Brian Albrecht hit a Texas-League single that just got over the glove of Mike Dunham that allowed Aalfs to score from third.
Hutchinson 9, Willmar 8
Willmar................601 010 0 -- 8 9 2
Hutchinson.........010 005 3 -- 9 8 2
HITTING - Willmar: Josh Oesterich 1-for-4, 2b; Jordan Smith 2-for-4, rbi; Alec Saunders 1-for-3; Matt Odom 1-for-3, 2 runs, 2b; John Sawatzky 1-for-4, 2b, 2 rbi; Alex Malmgren 2-for-3, 2 sb's, 3 rbi; Tim Chermak 1-for-2 ... Hutchinson: Kyle Becker 1-for-2; Seth Baldry 1-for-1; Rubin Thorson 1-for-1, 2b, rbi; Tyler Schwantes 1-for-1, 2b, rbi; Brad Hauer 1-for-3; Brian Albrecht 2-for-4, 2 rbi; Jackson Hallahan 1-for-3, rbi
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Willmar: Alex Malmgren 5Zc-6-6-3-4-3, Justin Hamann (L) 1Zc-1-3-3-3-0, Jordan Smith 0-1-0-0-0-0 ... Hutchinson: Ben Aalfs 1-5-6-2-1-1, Jackson Hallahan 4-3-2-2-1-1, Zach Lundgren (W) 2-1-0-0-0-1
