Rox Sweep Stingers; Play Tuesday Night in St. Cloud for Great Plains Championship

(KNSI) – More late-inning heroics for the Rox as they sweep Willmar in the first round of the Northwoods League playoffs.

St. Cloud was down 7-1 after five innings Monday night but got at least a run in the sixth through ninth frames to come from behind again and knock off the favorites in the Great Plains West. Willmar had 51 wins in the regular season and took seven of 12 contests against the Rox prior to this week’s playoff series.

Shortstop Anthony Mata followed up his two-homer performance Sunday with a game-tying single in the top of the ninth with one out. A walk to Sawyer Smith loaded the bases, and Oscar Serratos, Junior, was able to bring home the winning run on a sacrifice fly. The Rox took the game, 8-7, and the best-of-three series two games to nothing.

The win means Joe Faber Field gets another playoff game. St. Cloud hosts the La Crosse Loggers Tuesday night at 6:35. La Crosse swept the Eau Claire Express in the east to set up a one-game Great Plains Division championship.

The winner advances to the league title game, also a lone contest, later this week. The Green Bay Rockers, Kalamazoo Growlers, and Traverse City Pit Spitters are still alive in the Great Lakes Division bracket.

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