THUNDER BAY -- The Thunder Bay Border Cats were two outs away from controlling their own playoff destiny.
Instead, they'll need to win their first-half finale against the Willmar Stingers on Monday and hope for the Rochester Honkers to defeat the Eau Claire Express for the second day in a row, after the Cats gave up a two-run lead in the ninth and fell 3-2 in 10 innings to the top-ranked Stingers.
Thunder Bay's playoff hopes stayed alive when Rochester downed Eau Claire 11-7. The Express (19-14) remain a game ahead of Thunder Bay, but the first-half playoff spot will be decided by winning percentage, as the teams in the Great Plains East Division won't play the same number of games before the official end of the half on Monday night.
Willmar, aided by an untimely ninth-inning error by Border Cats shortstop Patrick Engskov, tied the score with one out in the ninth, No. 9 hitter Kristopher Hokenson singling to left to plate Parker Stinson and Kasten Furr, erasing a 2-0 Thunder Bay lead that had stood since the third inning.
Caleb Bunch was charged with the two runs, both unearned, and gave up the winning run in the 10th, Sean Rimmer singling with runners on first and third.
The Border Cats (17-14) started their half of the 10th with a runner on second, but Jonah Sutton was thrown out at third on a Travis Chestnut grounder. Chestnut made it as far as second, but closer Rylen Bayne got Tyler Kehoe to fly out to left to put an end to the contest.
Alex Clemons, who pitched 4.1 innings of shutout relief, earned the win for Willmar, who earlier in the week clinched the Great Plains West Division's first-half title and an automatic playoff spot. Bunch (4-1) took the loss.
Jalen Vorpahl drew the start and gave up two runs over 4.2 winnings, walking four and striking out two. Thunder Bay's runs came in the third, when Cole Ketzner singled home Sutton and Chestnut. Evan Hendricks started for the home side, playing in front of 850 fans at Port Arthur Stadium, lasing four-and-a-third, allowing no runs on two hits and three walks, while striking out six.
The first-half finale is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. on Monday night. Thunder Bay's Jack Pineau will be on the mound for the Border Cats
