ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Hot Tots followed the game plan from Mankato with an early lead over the Rochester Honkers by posting five runs at the top of the first inning of play and adding a run at the top of the second inning. The Honkers responded at the bottom of the first inning with four runs of their own, caught up with Minot at the bottom of the fourth inning for the 6-6 tie and traded runs with the Tots for the rest of the game.

Rochester would add a run at the bottom of the seventh inning of play for the 8-7 lead. Minot had one last ditch effort at the top of the ninth to make up the one run and extend the game to no avail as the Honkers took the 8-7 win.

Minot was 4-for-30 batting with one error as a team. Jonah Shield was 2-for-4 at the plate for half of the hits. Adam Berghult and Xavier Esquer had the other two hits in the game. As a team, the Tots were walked eight times with the seven runs being scored due to the hits occurring at the right times.

Will Smith pitched four innings and allowed six runs on six hits including two home runs. Drew Maust pitched two and one-third innings and allowed two runs on three hits. Jacob Mallozzi pitched two-thirds of an inning with no runs or hits allowed. Evan Dempsey pitched one inning and allowed no runs on one hit in relief.

Rochester was 10-for-32 at the plate with one error as a team. Dean Carpentier was 3-for-4 batting with three RBIs while Brendan O’Sullivan was 2-for-3 and Dom Rodriguez was 2-for-5 in the win. Juju Thompson pitched one inning and allowed five runs on two hits. AJ Rasmussen pitched three and two-third innings and allowed one run and no hits. Sadier Vicoso pitched three and one-third innings and allowed one run on one hit. Cam Cunnings pitched the last inning and allowed no runs with one hit and tallied two strikeouts in relief.

The Hot Tots will face the Honkers today, June 24, before heading to a two game stand at the Willmar Stingers.

Hot Tots 13, Mankato MoonDogs 6

MANKATO, Minn. – Minot rebounded in game two of the series in Mankato on Saturday, June 22, with seven runs to start the game at the top of the first inning and added six more over the rest of the innings to take the 13-6 win. The MoonDogs made an effort late with three runs at the bottom of the eighth and two more at the bottom of the ninth inning, but ran out of offense at that point.

Minot was 11-for-34 at the plate with one error as a team. Adam Berghult was a perfect 4-for-4 batting with four runs scored and four RBIs and two home runs in the win. Xavier Esquer was 2-for-4 with three RBIs added and scored twice with one home run for the Tots. Jonah Shields, Anthony Potestio, Lucas Pringle, Caden Parker and Keanu Jacobs-Guishard each added a hit in the game.

Griffin Shearon pitched three innings and allowed no runs, no hits and walked three batters as well as recorded three strikeouts. Luke Krouse pitched four and two-third innings and allowed four runs on six hits. Ray Keane pitched the last one and one-third innings and allowed two runs on two hits in relief.

Mankato was 8-for-35 batting and played error free ball. Ryan Ward was 2-for-4 at the plate while Gabriel Miranda was 2-for-5 in the loss. Regan Hall pitched one-third inning and allowed five runs with no hits before Bryce Crabb pitched the next four and two-third innings and allowed six runs on seven hits. All three Minot home runs came during his time on the mound. Owen Byberg pitched four innings and allowed two runs on four hits in relief.

Mankato MoonDogs 12, Hot Tots 7

MANKATO, Minn. – Mankato built a 3-0 lead over Minot over the first three innings before the Hot Tots dropped four runs at the top of the fourth inning to take the one run lead. Minot added two more runs at the top of the fifth inning for a 6-3 lead before the MoonDogs added three runs at the bottom of the same inning to tie the game. Mankato added four runs at the bottom of the sixth inning and one run at the bottom of the seventh and eighth for the 12-7 win.

Minot was 6-for-26 at the plate with three errors as a team. Adam Berghult was 2-for-3 batting. Mateo Werna, Evan Dempsey, Anthony Potestio and Xavier Esquer each had one hit in the game. Esquer’s hit was a home run. Hudson Yarbrough pitched two innings and allowed three runs on no hits. Thomas Leiden pitched three and two-third innings and allowed six runs on two hits. Jacob Mallozzi pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed two runs on four hits. Drew Maust pitched the last one and two-third innings and allowed one run on two hits in a relief.

Mankato was 8-for-30 batting with one error as a team. Nico Libed and Gabriel Miranda were each 2-for-4 at the plate with a combined seven RBIs in the win. Jackson Waller was 2-for-5 batting as well. Rylen Bayne pitched three innings and allowed four runs on three hits. Peter Michael pitched four innings and allowed two runs on two hits. Dylan Waite pitched the final inning and allowed one run on one hit in relief.