Calyn Halvorson’s RBI double scored Ambren Voitik with the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning as the Duluth Huskies rallied to defeat the Willmar Stingers 5-3 in Northwoods League baseball Friday night before 912 at Bill Taunton Stadium in Willmar, Minnesota.
The Huskies trailed 3-0 before scoring five runs in the last two innings. Michael Brooks provided the neutralizer in the eighth inning with a three-run home run to knot it 3-3.
Brooks finished with three hits and a walk while Voitik, Charlie Rhee and Xavier Carter added two hits apiece for the Huskies .
Ben Berl got the start on the mound for Duluth and pitched six strong innings, allowing just two runs while striking out six. Ethan Hammerberg pitched two innings of relief to get the win and Richard Kiel closed out the ninth for the save. The three Huskies pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts.
Augustana University’s Carter Howell had three hits to lead the Stingers (9-10 in second half), including a triple and double, while Sasha Jabusch started on the mound for Willmar but didn’t factor in the decision despite allowing just one run in seven innings.
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The same teams rematch at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Bill Taunton Stadium.
With Eau Clare’s 2-0 loss to St. Cloud Thursday, Duluth (10-9) takes sole possession of first place in the Great Plains East division, a half game over Waterloo (10-10) and a game over Eau Claire (10-11). Thursday was the Huskies’ first game of six-game, seven-day road trip.
