Kari Gibb/MDN Hot Tots pitcher Jakob Runkel (13) pitches in the first inning of game three of the four game home stand with the Willmar Stingers Wednesday, June 19, at Corbett Field

The Minot Hot Tots played the last two games of four against the visiting Willmar Stingers at Corbett Field. After dropping the first two games, the Hot Tots took the third game 6-3 and face the Stingers on Thursday, June 20, as their alter ego, the Berserkers.

Minot slowly chipped away at Willmar scoring one run at the bottom of the first, second, fourth and fifth innings along with two runs at the bottom of the eighth inning for the win. The Stingers would score two runs at the top of the third inning and one more at the top of the eighth inning in an effort to catch up to the Hot Tots.

Minot batted .361 as a team in game three. Mateo Serna hit his second home run of the season at the bottom of the eighth inning and scored Evan Dempsey in the process. Jonah Shields stole his ninth base on the year and Dempsey stole his seventh. The offense was on target in game three. The Hot Tots did not have a single inning of three-up, three-down in the game with at least four batters at the plate each inning.

Minot was 13-for-36 at the plate. Xavier Esquer was 3-for-4 batting. Evan Dempsey was 2-for-3 while Serna was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Wyatt Reginato and Adam Berghult were each 2-for-5 at the plate as well. Shields and Jaeden Jordahl each added hits in the win.

Jakob Runkel pitched five innings and allowed two hits on three runs. He walked two batters, recorded two strikeouts and one home run against him. Archer Stankowski pitched four innings and allowed one run on two hits. He walked four batters and tallied five strikeouts in relief.

Willmar was 5-for-28 batting. Max Buettenback was 2-for-3 while Colin Hynek, Nico Senese and Aidan Byrne each had a hit in the effort. JD Hennen pitched four and one-third innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. Sam Tyrpa pitched three and two-third innings and allowed two runs on five hits in relief.