Northwoods League: Beetles drop extra inning thriller to Stingers

The Alexandria Beetles played their first ever game against the Willmar Stingers on Wednesday night and would like to have it back, as they gave up a lead and lost to the expansion franchise in extra innings, 7-6.

The Beetles took a 6-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning but Willmar notched two runs in the seventh and three runs in the eighth to make it a 6-6 ball game. Stingers center fielder Isaac Ballou (Marshall) had an RBI triple as well as an RBI double in those two innings pacing the Willmar offensive effort.

The Stingers would fail to score in the bottom of the ninth, 10th and 11th before striking in the last of the 12th on a walk-off RBI single by left fielder Joe Sever (Pepperdine). Pitcher Logan Birr (St Cloud State) got the win in relief for the Willmar, pitching a scoreless top of the 12th.

The Beetles were very happy to see the arrival of second baseman Mikel Alvarez (FGCU) to the club. Alvarez went 4-for-5 with four singles in his first action of the 2010 season. Center fielder Patrick Biondi (Michigan) was able to reach base in five of his six plate appearances and stole his fourth base of the season. Alexandria also got another strong pitching performance from righthander Sander Beck (Maryland). Beck started for the Beetles and pitched five innings of one-hit ball, lowering his ERA to 1.50 on the season.

Erik Shannahan (John A Logan) will make his second start of the season for the Beetles in game two. First pitch is 7:05 from Bill Taunton Stadium in Willmar.

Courtesy: Matt Bishop/Alexandria Beetles