KARI GIBB/MDN North Dakota State College freshman Caitlyn Dannenfelzer from Mandan (15), playing catcher against the Mankato Habaneros takes a blow covering home plate as Minot State University junior Kierra Fournier (24) backs her up. Habaneros Madelyn Birling (74) crashed into the catcher to score an in park home run

The Minot Honeybees dropped all three hosted games against the Mankato Habaneros. The second and third games were very evenly played. Minot will have three home games this weekend. The Madison Night Mares will play the Honeybees twice on Saturday, July 20, and once on Sunday, July 21, at Corbett Field before hitting the road.

Mankato Habaneros 3, Honeybees 1

Mankato scored one run at the top of the first inning of play, added another run at the top of the fourth inning and added the final run with an in the park home run when the Habaneros hitter ran into Honeybee Caitlyn Dannenfelzer at home plate to knock the ball loose in the collision.

Minot scored their only run at the bottom of the third inning when a sacrifice fly hit by Sidney Farmer scored Dominique Baker. The Honeybees had a chance at the bottom of the seventh inning with one out, Trinity Gregg doubled but the next two batters were unable to get on base.

Minot was 6-for-26 at the plate with three errors as a team. Shannon Nelson was 2-for-3 batting. Farmer, Shayna Myshrall, Arianna Diaz and Gregg each had a hit in the game. Farmer had the only RBI in the game. Minot had six batters left on base during the game.

Payton Whitehead pitched four innings and allowed two runs on three hits. Kierra Fournier pitched three innings and allowed one run on three hits, walked one batter and recorded three strikeouts in relief.

Mankato was 6-for-28 batting with two errors as a team. Sailor Hall and Madelyn Birling were each 2-for-4 at the plate. The Habaneros had ten batters left on base in the win. Jenna Sprague pitched all seven innings, allowed one run on six hits and walked four batters.

Mankato Habaneros 7, Honeybees 2

The Minot Honeybees scored two runs at the bottom of the sixth inning but were unable to close the gap that Mankato created a seven run lead based on one run at the top of the first inning and another six runs at the top of the third inning for the win.

Shannon Nelson was walked to start the bottom of the sixth inning. Jackie Albrecht hit a home run on a 2-2 at bat that also included three fouls before sending the final pitch over the fence in left field. The Honeybees had eight runners left on base in the game.

Minot was 3-for-24 at the plate with one error in the game. Abbie Stigler and Josie Buhr joined Albrecht with one hit in the game each. Kierra Fournier pitched three innings and allowed seven runs- five earned- on four hits. She also walked four batters and tallied four strikeouts in the game. Jasmine Blizzard pitched four innings, allowed one hit and recorded four strikeouts in relief.

Mankato was 5-for-26 batting. Indigo Fish was 2-for-3 at the plate and Serena Timmer was 1-for-3 and added three RBIs in the win. The Habaneros had two batters left on base. Sailor Hall pitched five innings and allowed two hits and walked one batter and recorded one strikeout as well. Riley Stiles pitched two innings and allowed two runs on one hit, walked four batters and recorded one strikeout and the one home run.