DICKINSON — A long-ball first inning and a 7-3 lead weren’t enough for the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs (1-2) to grab a road win Sunday night in Dickinson against the Badlands Big Sticks (2-1).

The Big Sticks scored eight unanswered runs for a 12-7 victory.

The Sabre Dogs started the contest with fireworks. In the top of the first inning, Mason Dinesen and Tim Conway both smacked home runs to build up a 3-0 lead.

The Big Sticks answered with its own two-run home run by Wyatt Setian in the third inning.

Badlands eventually took the lead for the first time at 8-7 following a four-run sixth inning. Setian came through with a three-run double, and Conner VanCleave added an RBI double.

Setian wasn’t finished. He launched another home run, a solo shot, in the eighth inning to give the Big Sticks a two-run cushion.

Four more runs for the Big Sticks in the eighth inning put the game away.

The Sabre Dogs finished with 14 hits but only produced the seven runs. Conway finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs.

The two teams travel to Minot to continue this lengthy seven-game, multi-venue series against each other. It will be the Sabre Dogs home opener with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. at Corbett Field.

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