Scott Sommerfeld hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning Sunday to lift the Duluth Huskies to a 5-4 win over the visiting Willmar Stingers in the second game of a Northwoods League doubleheader.
It was a good finish to what had started off as a tough day for the Huskies, who were trounced by the Stingers 9-1 in the opener at Wade Stadium.
In the second game, the Huskies (5-5) took a 3-0 lead after five innings, but the Stingers (5-6) responded with two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Each of Sunday's games was slated to run seven innings; the doubleheader was scheduled after Saturday's game was rained out.
After Willmar picked up a run in the top of the eighth for a 4-3 lead, the Huskies staged their rally. Tyler Albright doubled to lead off the inning -- one of his three doubles in the game -- and then Sommerfeld hit a 2-1 pitch out of the park for the win.
Frank DeJiulio started and pitched five strong innings for the Huskies, allowing two hits, two runs -- one earned -- and five walks over five innings, while striking out three. Corey Maltz pitched the final three innings and picked up the win for the Huskies.
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In the opener, the Stingers scored three runs in the fourth, thanks in part to a two-run double by Sean Dwyer. Willmar broke the game open with five more runs in the sixth, including a two-run single by Jordan Smith.
Mark Threlkeld's RBI double in the bottom of the sixth, which drove in Cody Asche, provided the Huskies' only run.
Anders Engberg started and took the loss for Duluth. Cedric Pomerlee was the winning pitcher for Willmar.
The Huskies and Stingers play again at 7:05 p.m. today at Wade Stadium.
Sunday's Box Scores
First Game
Stingers 9, Huskies 1
WillmarDuluth
abrh biabrhbi
Leyva 2b3210Serrato ss4010
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Ballou cf4121Lytle rf2000
Sever lf1100Asche 3b2110
Smith rf3123Thrlkld dh3011
Gnzlz 1b3110Roliard lf3010
Haake ph1000Sharrar c 2 0 0 0
Delfino 3b3100Menou 1b3000
Dwyer dh4112Rynlds 2b3010
Johnson c2010Cpptta cf3000
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Spvck ph1000
Rowles ss210 0
Totals27 9 8 6 Totals251 51
Willmar 000 315 0--9 8 0
Duluth 000 001 0--1 5 1
2B -- Dwyer, Threlkeld. E -- Gropler. LOB -- Willmar 6, Duluth 6.
IPHRERBBSO
Willmar
Pomerlee (W, 1-0)5.141124
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Barto1.210001
Duluth
Engberg (L, 0-1) 4.033343
Gropler2.056531
Gaines 1.000000
WP -- Engberg, Gropler. HBP -- by Gropler (Leyva); by Pomerlee (Sharrar). PB -- Sharrar.
Time: 2:13. Attendance: 412.
Second Game
Huskies 5, Stingers 4
WillmarDuluth
abrh biabrhbi
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Leyva 2b3110Lytle cf4121
Ballou cf4100Ercksn ss3010
Sever ss3000Asche 1b3000
Smith rf2111Thrlkld 3b2111
Delfino dh2001Roliard lf4010
Bembom c4001Gaines dh 2 0 0 0
Haake 1b2010Sharrar ph1000
Rowles pr0100Albright c4131
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Gnzlz ph1000Smmrfld rf3112
Willson 3b3020Smmrfld rf3120 Serna lf200 1
Totals26 4 5 4 Totals295 115
Willmar 000 002 11--4 5 1
Duluth 000 120 02--5 11 2
2B -- Albright 3, Threlkeld. HR -- Sommerfeld. E -- Sever, Albright, Reynolds. LOB -- Willmar 6, Duluth 9.
IPHRERBBSO
Willmar
Carroll4.173320
Collins2.020020
Zapata (L, 1-1)0.222200
Duluth
DeJiulio5.022153
Maltz (W, 1-0)3.032200
HBP -- by Maltz (Delfino).
Time: 2:10. Attendance: 431.
