WATERLOO-A fast start offensively and strong pitching lifted the Stingers to a 6-2 Northwoods League win over Waterloo Thursday night.
The Stingers improve to 12-7 in the North Division second-half race. They remain tied with Mankato for second, a half-game back of St. Cloud.
Willmar finishes its series in Waterloo today at 7:05 p.m.
In the first inning on Thursday, following Quincy McAfee's lead-off walk and singles by Danny Pardo and Greg Lambert, Justin Toerner singled to put Willmar up 2-0 before the Bucks recorded an out.
Lambert, who had a game-high three hits, added another run in the inning on a fielder's choice.
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Up 4-2 going into the eighth, McAfee stretched the Stinger lead with a two-run single of his own.
Making his debut with the team, Caleb Arbeiter overcame some control issues to get the win. Despite four walks, he surrendered just one run in five innings.
Jake Rothwell then threw the final four innings, striking out five and surrendering just one unearned run.
Rothwell got into a dangerous situation when he loaded the bases in the ninth inning, but secured the win by striking out Justin Beck.
Willmar 6, Waterloo 2
Willmar 300 001 020-6 11 2
Waterloo 100 001 000-2 10 2
Hitting-Willmar: Quincy McAfee 1-4 r rbi-2, Danny Pardo 2-5 r, Greg Lambert 3-4 r, Justin Toerner 1-3 rbi-2, Eddie Estrada 0-3 r, Luke Becker 1-3 r, Kole Cottam 1-4 r, Brandon Perez 2-4 rbi... Waterloo: Adam McGinnis 2-5 rbi, Lane Milligan 1-4 rbi
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Pitching-Willmar: Caleb Arbeiter (W) 5-4-1-1-4-4, Jake Rothwell 4-6-1-0-1-5... Waterloo: Steven Baker (L) 3.2-6-3-3-4-2, Patrick Boyle 0.2-1-0-0-1-0, Andrew Muehlberger 1.1-1-1-1-1-0, Trevor Patterson 0.1-0-0-0-0-0, Kellen Rholl 1-1-0-0-0-0, Nate Spielvogel 1-2-2-1-0-0, Daniel Agramont 1-0-0-0-1-1
