The Minot Hot Tots saved their best performance for their series finale against the St. Cloud Rox, racking up 11 runs on 13 hits in a decisive 11-2 victory on Sunday afternoon at Corbett Field to avoid a four-game sweep.

The victory was Minot’s first against St. Cloud in eight attempts this season. It’s the second time the Hot Tots have plated 10 or more runs this season, the other time coming in a 15-14 loss to Willmar on May 30.

The Hot Tots (6-22) did all their damage over two innings, scoring six runs in the fourth and tacking on five more in the eighth to snap a four-game losing streak. Jacob Pearl led the offensive breakout with four hits, including two doubles. He and Will Smoot finished with a game-high three RBIs. Smoot collected a pair of hits and had one of six extra-base hits – all doubles.

St. Cloud (20-6) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning and kept the Hot Tots off the board until the fourth. Minot brought 11 batters to the plate in the fourth and forced two pitching changes. The first four Minot batters reached base safely and Christian Stratis plated Matt Toomey with an RBI-double to left field. Stratis and Max Ortega would come around to score during the next at-bat on a Smoot single to right.

Alex Dupuy was called in for the Rox to stop the bleeding, but only lasted 1/3 of an inning. After striking out Bryson Webb, Dupuy’s day was finished after hitting back-to-back Hot Tots and allowing three runs over the course of the next two batters when Pearl smashed a 2-run single and Henry Allen followed up with an RBI double.

When the Rox plated a run in the eighth, the Hot Tots responded with five runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Anthony Temesvary brought in two runs with an RBI single to center and Pearl added to his big night with an RBI single two batters later. Stratis added his second RBI on the night and Smoot drew a bases-loaded walk to cap off the scoring.

Trent Harris notched his first victory of the season on the mound, allowing one run on three hits over five innings, striking out three. Kevin Schoneboom and Pavlos Piperakis allowed just two hits in four innings of combined relief.

The Hot Tots hit the road for their next six games, beginning tonight in Mankato at 6:35 p.m.