Jimmy Lafakis/MDN Souris Valley players celebrate after earning a 6-5 victory over the Badlands Big Sticks on Sunday afternoon at Corbett Field. The Sabre Dogs scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Bo McClintock decided that the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs’ fans needed to witness another thrilling finish.

For the third game in a row, the Sabre Dogs (12-9) defeated the Big Sticks (11-11) via a walk-off. After three runs scored on McClintock’s solid base knock to the outfield, Souris Valley sealed a 6-5 victory.

Unseen hours helped McClintock regain his focus at the plate. Late Saturday night, the designated hitter took cuts off the tee at Heilman’s Performance in Minot.

“I wanted to be better, honestly,” McClintock said. “That’s what it comes down to. I felt like I wasn’t as focused as I could have been (Saturday) night at the plate. I was like, ‘I need to get my mind right, so I’m just going to go work out. I’m going to keep it simple, go back to the basics, see it and hit it.’ Late night, off the tee at midnight, I got myself back to where I want to be.”

McClintock praised his teammates for not giving at-bats away during the contest.

“A lot of grit from our team,” McClintock said. “A lot of fight. A lot of guys on our team that won’t go down without a fight. That’s what we did today. I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

Badlands racked up the game’s first two runs after Gavin Sloan ripped a line drive down the left-field line in the fourth inning. With two runners in scoring position during that frame, Souris Valley’s Nik Levensteins lifted a deep sacrifice fly for the Sabre Dogs’ first tally.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Cullen Hannigan sprinted home on a wild pitch. The game remained tied at 2-2 until the Big Sticks scored three runs in the top of the eighth.

Souris Valley loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth. After Josh Solomon was hit by a pitch, McClintock stepped into the batter’s box with two men away.

He fouled the first pitch off before he delivered the game’s most crucial hit. Two runs scored as Solomon sprinted around the bases and slid straight across the Corbett turf for the go-ahead score.

As the Sabre Dogs celebrated in a massive dogpile past third base, assistant coach Brock Baughcum beamed with pride. The dogpile lasted for several minutes before McClintock emerged from beneath the heap.

“They can fight from behind any night,” Baughcum said. “You’ve seen it the past three nights. They’ve won late in ball games. It just goes to show you what these guys are capable of. There’s no quit in them.”

The come-from-behind win granted the Sabre Dogs even more breathing room over their rivals atop the Lewis Division standings.

“We came out a little bit flat,” Baughcum said. “Toward the end, we battled. We finally found a way.”

Souris Valley goes for the series sweep at 7:05 p.m. this evening in Minot.

“How can you not be excited to come to the ballpark after three walk-offs?” Baughcum said. “But, it’s very hard to find that energy again after something like this each day.”

Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.