On paper, these games still fall under the category of regular season games, but with the year winding down to its final two weeks, the next six games between the Minot Honeybees and Mankato Habaneros will go a long way in determining who gets to the playoffs and who falls short.

The Honeybees opened a six-game set against Mankato (Minn.) – their final six meetings of the season – with a crucial 7-2 victory on the road on Sunday to stretch their advantage over the Habaneros to three games for the final of two playoff spots.

Emma Vike delivered a two-run home run as part of a three-run fourth inning to put the Honeybees (18-13) ahead for good and Julianna Verni recorded her eighth win of the season by pitching a complete-game three-hitter.

Tied 1-1 entering the fourth, Minot’s Bella Cimino broke the stalemate with an RBI triple to center field to score Virginia Membelli. Vike – playing in her first game with the Honeybees – made her presence felt immediately with a home run in just her second at-bat.

The Honeybees would tack on three more runs in the sixth to clinch the opener. A costly error at shortstop would lead to two unearned runs for Minot and Carly Cummings stole home to cap off the night.

Cimino and Taylor Chillingworth collected two hits a piece for the Honeybees, who finished with eight as a team.

Minot and Mankato (15-16) play a doubleheader today in Mankato beginning at 5:05 p.m. before the teams head to Minot for a three-game set at Corbett Field beginning on Wednesday and concluding with a doubleheader on Thursday.