SAUK RAPIDS - Cole Christensen pitched a four-hitter with only a walk but the Willmar offense was largely silent facing Sauk Rapids’ ace Tyler Bjork and fell 3-2 in a Central Lakes Conference game Tuesday.
“We played aggressively today and though we made some errors we fought through a few rough-looking innings to have a chance to win,” Cardinals’ head coach Mark Stier said. “Cole threw a great game and deserved better [but] we had a much better effort tonight, and if we play like this, we can win some games.”
Willmar (2-6, 2-9) scored an unearned run in the second and Cole Hagen singled in Brett Swanson in the fifth to make it 3-2.
Bjork’s three-hitter included five walks and eight strikeouts.
Only one run was earned off Christensen.
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Willmar is at Fergus Falls on Thursday.
Sauk Rapids 3, Willmar 2
Willmar (2-6, 2-9) 010 010 0 - 2 3 5
SR (3-5, 4-7) 002 100 x - 3 4 2
HITTING – Willmar: Cole Hagen 1-for-4, rbi; Josh Tinklenberg 1-for-2, r, bb-2; Adam Nibaur 1-for-4 … SR: Casey Lynch 1-for-3, Matt Meyer 1-for-3, rbi; Tyler Bjork 1-for-3, 2b, Jordan Schlichting 1-for-2
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Willmar: Cole Christensen (L) 6-4-3-1-1-2 … SR: Bjork (W) 7-3-2-0-5-8
