Rox Dodge Rain Drops, Rally to Defeat Willmar

(KNSI) – Shortstop Anthony Mata powered a Rox comeback as the home team upset the Willmar Stingers in Game One of a best-of-three playoff series.

The Stingers finished the regular season at 51-16, good for the best regular season record in the entire Northwoods League. They led 2-0 and 3-2 Sunday afternoon but couldn’t hold the advantage.

St. Cloud’s Mata had two home runs and collected all four of the team’s RBI en route to a 4-3 win. The deciding blow came in the sixth just as rain was beginning to pick up. Sawyer Smith walked with one out before Mata barreled one up to left.

Jackson Hauge scored the other run for the Rox. He was on base in the second, also because of a walk. Hauge picked up a hit later in the game besides his base on balls.

The Rox can close out the Stingers in a mild first-round upset on Monday night in Willmar. If a third game is necessary, the teams would play on Tuesday.

The La Crosse Loggers nipped Eau Claire, 2-1, in the other Great Plains Subdivision Round opener.

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