SAUK RAPIDS -- Willmar won a pair of one-run games Tuesday over Central Lakes Conference foe Sauk Rapids.
A four-run seventh inning allowed Willmar to rally from a 3-1 deficit in the opener as the Cardinals won 5-4. Willmar then plated two runs in the fourth and fifth innings en route to winning 4-3 in the second game, allowing its winning streak to reach four.
Josh Oestreich collected three hits in the first game while Jordan Smith scored the winning run on Alec Saunders' double, after tying the game with a two-run double that brought in Oestreich and Matt Odom.
Smith also worked all seven innings on the mound to earn the win, striking out eight without issuing a walk along the way. Alex Malmgren threw out a baserunner in the fourth inning from right field for Willmar.
Smith doubled in Oestreich and scored on Michael Dunham's single in the fourth in the second game before Tim Chermak scored on an error and Odom scored on a delayed steal in the fifth to put Willmar ahead for good. Malmgren threw seven effective innings to pick up the win.
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Willmar will resume an earlier postponed Central Lakes Conference game with Little Falls at home on Thursday at 4 p.m. before starting up another game with the Flyers.
Game One
Willmar 5, Sauk Rapids 4
Willmar...................000 001 4 -- 5 9 0
Sauk Rapids..........201 000 1 -- 4 10 2
HITTING - Willmar: Josh Oestreich 3-for-4; Matt Odom 1-for-4, 2 runs; Jordan Smith 1-for-4, 2b, 2 rbi; Alec Saunders 2-for-4, 2b, rbi; Alex Malmgren 1-for-2; Logan Birkland 1-for-3 ... Sauk Rapids: Andy Henkemeyer 2-for-4, 2b, solo HR, 2 rbi; Travis Carveau 2-for-4; Joe Statz 1-for-3; Patrick Piepkom 2-for-3, 2 rbi; Tyler Serena 1-for-2; Dustin Legatt 2-for-3, 3b
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Willmar: Jordan Smith (W) 7-10-4-4-0-8 ... Sauk Rapids: Tyler Christen 6-6-1-1-0-6, Tyler Serena (L) 1-3-4-0-1-0
Game Two
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Willmar 4, Sauk Rapids 3
Sauk Rapids............000 030 0 -- 3 8 2
Willmar.....................000 220 x -- 4 9 2
HITTING - Sauk Rapids: Anthony Bemboom 1-for-3; Andy Henkenmeyer 1-for-3; Travis Carveau 2-for-3, rbi; Joe Statz 2-for-4; Patrick Piepkom 1-for-3, rbi; Dustin Legatt 1-for-1, 3b ... Willmar: Matt Odom 2-for-3; Jordan Smith 1-for-2, 2b; Alec Saunders 1-for-3; Michael Dunham 2-for-3, rbi; John Swatzky 1-for-3; Alex Malmgren 1-for-3; Tim Chermak 1-for-1
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Sauk Rapids: Chris Haakenson (L) 6-9-4-2-2-2 ... Willmar: Alex Malmgren (W) 7-8-3-3-3-3
