Kari Gibb/MDN Honeybees shortstop and freshman athlete from Santa Clara University, Cairah Curran (1) fields the ball and makes the throw to 1st base in the second inning of the first ever home game at Corbett Field against the Madison Night Mares

The ‘Sold Out’ signs were on the seating charts for over half of the stadium at Corbett Field as the Minot Honeybees had their first ever home game in their first season as a member of the Northwoods League against the Madison Night Mares.

The fans and fun were the bulk of the action for two innings. At the top of the third inning, an error cost Minot as Madison posted two runs for the Night Mares lead. They would add one more run at the top of the fourth inning for the 3-0 win.

The Honeybees had their best shot at making a run in the game at the bottom of the seventh inning. Cailyn Dannenfelzer singled as the first batter of the inning. Josie Buhr did the same to get runners on first and second. Kierra Fourniner was walked to load the bases with no outs. With her at bat, the Night Mares swapped out pitchers and Kendall Weik handled the next three batters with one strikeout and two putouts to hold Minot scoreless.

Minot was 4-for-25 at the plate with two errors as a team. Sydney Farmer, Jackie Albrecht, Dannenfelzer and Buhr were each 1-for-3 at the plate for the home team. Albrecht pitched six innings and allowed three runs on six hits with an earned run tally of two runs. She walked three batters and recorded six strikeouts. Fournier pitched one inning and allowed no runs or hits. She walked two batters and had one strikeout.

Madison was 6-for-29 batting with error free play. Carly Oliver was 2-for-4 and Chloe Wamboldt, Haley Remington, Hilary Blomberg and Danielle Lucey each had a hit at the plate. Karlie McKenzie pitched six innings and allowed no runs on six hits. She walked three batters and recorded nine strikeouts in the win. Weik pitched one inning and allowed no runs or hits and walked one batter and recorded one strikeout in relief.

Minot has started the season 2-5 with the next six games at home in Minot. Curran leads the team in batting. She is 9-for-16 batting on the season with a .563 average. Farmer is at a .409 average just behind her.

The Honeybees faced Madison in the second game at Corbett with the first pitch at 8:35 p.m. that was not complete at print time and will play the Night Mares today, June 26 before having the rest of the week off.