A no-hitter is a no-hitter no matter how it looks in the box score, and it was perfect timing for the Minot Honeybees, as they snapped a three-game losing streak in a 6-1 victory over Wausau (Wisc.) on July 28 to take a step closer to clinching a playoff spot.

Jackie Albrecht allowed one unearned run, struck out 10 and walked seven to record a complete-game no-hitter and move the Honeybees two games in front of Mankato in the hunt for the postseason. The Habaneros dropped a 9-0 contest to Madison for their third straight loss. Minot’s magic number is down to two.

After being 10-run mercied the night prior, the Honeybees led throughout, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first. Minot put its first two runners on via walks and Virginia Mambelli scored Carly Cummings on a sacrifice fly. Taylor Chillingworth followed with an RBI single to bring Trinity Gregg in to score.

The Honeybees (20-18) tacked on two more runs in the second after again using walks to get their first two runners on the basepaths. Cummings and Gregg delivered back-to-back RBI singles to give Minot a 4-0 lead.

Minot added some additional insurance in the final inning, with Bella Cimino and Olivia Hernandez getting into the mix. Cimino brought in Gregg with a sacrifice fly and Hernandez singled home Mambelli with a shot to center field.

Cummings, Gregg, Mambelli, Chillingworth and Hernandez all recorded a hit and an RBI.

That was more than Albrecht would need. She posted double-digit strikeouts for the second time this season, the other occasion coming in a 4-3 win against La Crosse on July 18 in which she recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts. Albrecht has at least one strikeout in all 17 appearances this season and has 65 for the year.

The Ignite (12-28) left eight runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the fourth, where they did scratch out an unearned run without recording a hit. Mia Johnson plated Riley Schwisow on an RBI groundout to third. Wausau brought seven batters to the plate in the inning, two reaching via walks, one by fielder’s choice and another by a Minot error. But with the bases loaded and two outs, Albrecht got Ava Clark to fly out to center field to end the threat and keep her no-hitter intact.

The Honeybees close out their series with Wausau on July 29 at 6:35 p.m. before returning home for their final series of the regular season – a three-game showdown and potential playoff preview with Madison beginning July 31. Minot could enter that series having already clinched the final playoff spot if it wins against Wausau and Mankato falls to La Crosse on July 30.