Kari Gibb/MDN Nova Southeastern University sophomore Sam Holthaus (23) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two run scoring home run at the bottom of the second inning against the Badlands Big Sticks Monday at Corbett Field.

The Badlands Big Sticks made the trip to Minot to play two games in as many days and started the game with one run and spent the rest of the game chasing the Hot Tots for nine innings only to watch Minot continue to score runs enroute to a 14-4 win.

Anthony Potestio started the action at the bottom of the first inning with a home run on a 1-1 pitch that scored Peyton Becker and Sam Holthaus knocked another home run to right field on a 2-1 pitch at the bottom of the second inning to score Blake Penso for a 4-1 lead going into the third inning of play.

After the Big Sticks added two runs at the top of the third and another run at the top of the fourth inning, the Hot Tots added five more runs at the bottom of the fourth inning. Home run hitting continued for Minot when Keanu Jacobs-Guishard hit a shot to left field to score Jaeden Jordahl. Potestio was walked, Xavier Esquer singled to put runners on bases. Brant Baughcum added his own home run to left to score Potestio and Esquer for the 10-4 Hot Tot lead.

The home team would add four more runs at the bottom of the fifth inning of play. Blake Penso singled to left to start the inning. Jordahl singled to center. Jacobs-Guishard singled to left field to load the bases.

With one out, Becker singled to right to score Penso. Potestio was walked next to push Jordahl across home plate. With two out, Baughcum was at bat when Jacobs-Guishard scored on an unearned run and Becker scored as the Big Sticks struggled with a fielder’s choice when Baughcum got a bat on the ball for four runs.

Minot was 14-for-37 at the plate and played error free ball. Potestio, Holthaus, Jacobs-Guishard and Baughcum hit home runs for the Hot Tots. Becker was 3-for-5 with two RBIs batting. Penso was 2-for-5 at the plate. Jordahl was 2-for-4 batting. Jacobs-Guishard was a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBIs on his home run. Holthaus was 2-for-5 with the two RBIs from his home run. Baughcum had only one hit but added three RBIs from the home run.

Tyler Glowacki pitched five innings and allowed four runs on five hits. He walked two batters, had two strikeouts and allowed two home runs. Eli Niemiec pitched two innings and allowed three hits, walked one batter and recorded three strikeouts. Will Wojtasiak pitched two innings and allowed one hit, walked two batters and struck out one in relief.

Badlands was 9-for-34 batting and had one error as a team. Adam Haber and Zack Selfon were each 2-for-3 at the plate while Kaden Carpenter was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one home run. Luke Shannahan had one hit in the game that was a home run as well.

Mitchell Mussler pitched two innings and allowed five runs on two hits and two home runs. Cooper Vanluchene pitched three innings and allowed nine runs- seven earned- on seven hits and two home runs as well. Aidan Vanrider pitched two innings and allowed one hit. Evan Appelwick pitched one inning and recorded two strikeouts.