SAUK RAPIDS -- A rough first inning hampered Willmar's chances at a second Central Lakes Conference win of the season Monday.
The Cardinals gave up five runs in the first to Sauk Rapids, which ended in a 6-4 Willmar loss.
Sauk Rapids' 5-1 lead after the first inning was helped along by two of Willmar's five errors.
The Cardinals (1-8, 3-11) took a 1-0 lead when Jake Damhof was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs.
In the third inning, Ryan Horning doubled to drive in two runs, also with two outs.
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Sauk Rapids (5-6, 7-7) scored in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-3 lead. Willmar picked up a run in the seventh on a two-out double to right-center field from Andrew Bangen.
Erik Bjork had two hits and Jason Hoppe hit a two-run double to lead the Storm.
Bangen went the distance, but took the loss. He struck out two and walked four.
Sauk Rapids 6, Willmar 4
Willmar (1-8, 3-11) 102 000 1--4 5 5
S.Rapids (5-6, 7-7) 500 001 x--6 4 2
HITTING - Willmar: Jake Rambow 1-for-3; Nathanial Swoyer 1-for-3, 2 runs, 2b; Andrew Bangen 1-for-3, 2b, rbi; Ryan Horning 1-for-3, 2b, 2 rbi; Derrick Loiselle 1-for-2 ... Sauk Rapids: Jason Hoppe 1-for-2, 2b, 2 rbi; Alex Schueller 1-for-3, rbi; Erik Bjork 2-for-3
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Willmar: Andrew Bangen (L) 6-4-6-2-4-2 ... Sauk Rapids: Brett DeGagne 2Xc-2-3-3-5-6; Ethan Prow (W) 4Zc-3-1-0-0-4
