Kari Gibb/MDN University of Northern Colorado senior, Griffin Webb pitches in the first inning of play as Minot hosted the St. Cloud Rox on Sunday, July 14, at Corbett Field.

The Minot Hot Tots hosted the Badlands Big Sticks for two games and the St. Cloud Rox in the first of two games over the weekend. Minot would take both games against the Big Sticks and drop the first game to the Rox on Sunday, July 14, at Corbett Field. Game two with St. Cloud will be today, July 15, at the home field.

St Cloud Rox 5, Hot Tots 0

The Rox scored two runs at the top of the first inning of play, added two more at the top of the eighth inning of play enroute to the 5-0 win over the hosting Hot Tots.

Minot was 4-for-29 at the plate with two errors as a team. Anthony Potestio, Evan Dempsey, Cody Grebeck and Jonah Shields each had a hit in the game that yielded no runs for the team.

Griffin Webb pitched the first inning and allowed two runs on two hits prior to exiting the game due to illness. Thomas Leiden pitched one inning, Lucas Aguirre pitched three innings, Quinn Hocom pitched one inning and Brandon Markarian pitched one hinning and combined for one run and two hits between the group. Jacob Mallozzi pitched two innings and allowed two runs on two hits in relief.

Hot Tots 15,

Badlands Big Sticks 13

Minot trailed the Big Sticks 5-0 after two and one-half innings of play. The Tots tied the game at 5-5 by the end of the third inning and added three more at the bottom of the fourth inning for the 8-5 lead that Badlands narrowed by one at the top of the fifth inning. Minot again added five runs at the bottom of the seventh and two more at the bottom of the eighth but needed defense and pitching to hold the Badlands to six runs at the top of the ninth inning for the 15-13 win.

Anthony Potestio started the scoring for Minot with a single to right at the bottom of the third inning. Xavier Esquer then singled to place runners on first and second bases. Caid Bergthold would double next to score both Potestio and Esquer for two runs.

Evan Dempsey singled next, taking first base while Bergthold moved to third base. Blake Penso was walked to load the bases. Trae Cassidy singled to left to advance the base runners and scored Bergthold. One out later, Keanu Jacobs-Guishard singled to score Dempsey and Penso for the five runs.

At the bottom of the seventh, Jack Matousek was walked and Jacobs-Guishard doubled to left to put runners on second and third bases. Nick Alonso singled to right to score Matousek. Potestio then hit a triple to right to score Jacobs-Guishard and Alonso. Esquer doubled to left to score Potestio.

One out later, Dempsey would single to center and after a change in pitcher for Badlands, Penso would hit a sacrifice fly to score Esquer for the five runs.

Minot was 16-for-42 at the plate while playing an error free game. Dempsey was 3-for-5 with two RBIs batting. Potestio and Esquer were each 3-for-6 with two RBIs each at the plate. Jacobs-Guishard was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs while Bergthold was 2-for-6 with three RBIs in the win. Penso, Trae Cassidy and Alonso each had hits as well.

Ayden Sauerbrei pitched five innings and allowed six runs on six hits, walked three batters, recorded five strikeouts and allowed two home runs. Edwing Corrales pitched three and one-third innings and allowed seven runs on nine hits while Jaden Alberson pitched two-thirds of the last inning and allowed one hit in relief.

Badlands were 14-for-40 batting and had five errors as a team. Cole Tabor was 3-for-4 at the plate while Zach Selfon was 2-for-3, Evan Applewick was 2-for-4 and Adam Haber and Luke Shannahan were each 2-for-5 batting.

Steve Marhefke pitched three and one-third innings and allowed eight runs- four earned- walked two and had two strikeouts. TJ Spitdowski pitched three innings and allowed five runs and six hits. Jackson Horras pitched one and two-third innings and allowed two runs on three hits in relief.

Hot Tots 4,

Badlands Big Sticks 3

The Badland Big Sticks started the game with single runs at the top of the first and third innings for the 2-0 lead. Minot would close the gap at the bottom of the fourth inning when Blake Penso hit a solo home run.

The Big Sticks added a run at the top of the sixth inning of play for the 3-1 lead. At the bottom of the eighth inning of play, with one out, Xavier Esquer hit a solo home run for a 3-2 score. Adrian Dominguez singled to left and Evan Dempsey entered as a pinch runner. With two out, Penso was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second base. Jack Matousek doubled to left to score Dempsey and Penso for the 4-3 score.

Minot was 8-for-32 at the plate with one error as a team. Dominguez and Matousek were each 2-for-4 batting and Matousek added two RBIs. Esquer, Adam Berghult, Penso and Brant Baughcum each had a hit in the win.

Aidan Reichek pitched three innings and allowed two runs- one earned- on four hits. Hudson Yarbrough pitched three innings and allowed one run on two hits, walked four batters and recorded four strikeouts. Griffin Webb pitched one inning and allowed one hit. Ashton Jenkins and Tanner Mueller each pitched one inning and allowed no runs or hits.

Badlands was 7-for-34 batting with one error as a team. Adam Haber was 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Tyler Conklin pitched seven innings and allowed one run on five hits. Sean Farney pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed three runs on three hits. Both pitchers allowed a home run each. Jacoby Hold pitched one-third inning in relief.