FERGUS FALLS - Willmar starter Cole Hagen withstood a seven-run first inning and recovered to throw five innings as the Cardinals beat Fergus Falls 11-7 on Thursday.
The Cardinals finish the regular season at 4-10 in the regular season and 4-13 overall. They open Section 2AAA play 5 p.m. today against Shakopee in Waconia.
“Cole mixed well and gave us some much needed innings as we head into (today),” Willmar head coach Mark Stier said. “It was a good way to end the conference season for our seniors who have worked hard through this tough, wet spring.”
The Cardinals greeted Otters’ starter Shane Neuman with three runs in the first and didn’t let up, plating five more in the second and third, and three in the fifth.
Josh Tinklenberg smacked a three-run double in the fifth and had two hits on the night.
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Austin Smith, Tony McCleary and Brett Swanson also had two-hit performances, and Smith scored three times.
Hagen struck out two and picked up his first varsity win, and Cole Christensen tossed two hitless innings of relief.
Willmar 11, Fergus Falls 7
Willmar 323 030 0 - 11 11 4
Fergus Falls 700 000 0 - 7 8 5
HITTING – Willmar: Austin Smith h-2, r-3, rbi, Tony McCleary h-2, r-2, rbi, Josh Tinklenberg h-2, rbi-4, 2b, Brett Swanson h-2, r-2, rbi, Carter Sack h-1, rbi, Adam Nibaur h-1, rbi, Noah Vreeman h-1, 2b … Fergus Falls: Zach Thunselle 3-5, rbi-2
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Willmar: Cole Hagen (W) 5-8-7-2-2-2; Cole Christensen 2-0-0-0-2-2 … Fergus Falls: Shane Neuman (L) 4-8-10-6-2-3; Josiah Rostad 3-3-1-1-3-1
