WILLMAR - Starbuck struck early and late en route to drubbing Willmar 9-2 on Friday at Swansson Field.
Starbuck collected just three more hits than Willmar, 11-8, but Willmar committed six errors. Starbuck scored twice in the first and fourth innings and opened the floodgates with a four-run seventh.
Matthew Gruber drove in three runs for Starbuck with a pair of bases-loaded walks and a single. Connor Westberg, Ryan Christianson and Carter Westberg also had two hits apiece for the visitors.
Starbuck starter Collin Richards worked all seven innings on the mound to earn the win. The righthander struck out six and scattered seven singles and a triple.
Willmar didn’t find the scoreboard until the sixth when Tyler Johnson tripled to lead off the frame and scored on Dalton Rambow’s single up the middle. Grant Bangen later scored when Kaden Kessler-Gross drew a bases-loaded walk.
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Willmar is at the Starbuck Tournament today and Sunday.
Starbuck 9, Willmar 2
Starbuck 210 200 4 - 9 11 0
Willmar 000 002 0 - 2 8 6
HITTING – Starbuck: Connor Westberg 2-3 r-2, Shawn Stumpf 1-2 3b r-2 rbi-2, Matthew Gruber 2-3 bb-2 rbi-3, Collin Richards 1-4 rbi, Ryan Christianson 2-4 2b rbi, Carter Westberg 2-4 r … Willmar: Braden Sunder 1-4, Noah Streed 1-4, Tyler Johnson 2-4 3b r, Dalton Rambow 1-3 rbi, Jon Broman 1-3, Zak Madsen 1-3, Jack Baumgart 1-1
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Starbuck: Richards (W) 7-8-2-2-2-6 … Willmar: Johnson (L) 4-7-5-4-2-3, Brandon Elseth 3-4-4-4-1-1
