The Hot Tots were in Mankato, MN Thursday night to kick off their two-game series against the MoonDogs.

The Hot Tots started at bat Thursday night in the top of the first taking a quick lead against the MoonDogs. Designated hitter Blake Cavill was hit by a pitch to bring him to first base before catcher Max Ortega hit an RBI double into the outfield allowing Cavill to round the bases safely home. Ortega quickly grew Minot’s lead during center fielder Matt Toomey’s at bat, stealing third and subsequently stealing home to bring the score to 2-0. An earlier double play to take out right fielder Jacob Pearl and first baseman Henry Allen put two outs on the board ahead of left fielder Christian Stratis’ at-bat. Toomey was able to steal second and third base before Stratis was struck out, ending the half.

Pitcher CJ Hansen had a strong start for the Hot Tots’ defense, striking out all three batters that stepped up to the plate during the bottom of the first, leaving the score 2-0 at the end of the inning.

Third baseman TJ Stottlemyer was the only batter for Minot to facilitate a run during the second inning. After second baseman Ethan Reader stole second base, a sacrifice hit by shortstop Ryan Casto left him at third. Stottlemyer was able to secure an RBI single into center field that allowed Reader to score and grow Minot’s lead to 3-0.

Hansen saw another great inning on the mound with one strike out and two putouts at first to prevent the MoonDogs from stepping on base for two innings in a row. The score was 3-0 at the end of the second inning.

Ortega found his second RBI of the game during the top of the third inning. He hit a single to the MoonDog’s center fielder that allowed Allen to run safely home. A fly ball into left field by left fielder Christian Stratis ended the half before Minot to grow their lead even more.

Hansen’s so-far perfect game came to an end during the bottom of the third with an error at second base allowing a batter onto first base. The MoonDOgs were able to gain a little bit of momentum off of the error and earned their first run of the game. Minot was able to secure their third out before Mankato could score again.

An RBI double by right fielder Jacob Pearl brought Castro home to earn back the run that they gave up in the previous inning. After Blake Cavill was walked, the Tots found themselves with loaded bases. At this point, the MoonDogs switched Cayden Hansen onto the mount with two outs on the board. Ortega was walked during the next at bat, giving him an RBI walk and bringing Stottlemyer home and growing Minot’s lead to 6-0 before the end of the half.

Mankato was able to score two additional runs during the bottom of the fourth, including one off of an RBI triple, but they were unable to catch up to Minot, leaving the score 6-3 at the end of the inning.

The fifth inning was the first scoreless one for the Hot Tots during Thursday night’s game. A popout and double play ended the half with no runners on base. The MoonDogs started to gain ground during the bottom of the fifth. A sacrifice RBI at first allowed them to cut the Hot Tots’ lead down to two and an RBI single cut it to one. Josh Livengood switched onto the mound at that point and shut the MoonDogs down before they could tie the game.

Blake Cavill was the first Tot to bring in a run during the top of the sixth. He hit an RBI single into right field that allowed Stottlemyre to make it safely home. A walk for Max Ortega loaded the bases once again for the Hot Tots, but a strike out and force out at third ended the inning with Minot with a two run advantage.

Mankato was unable to score in the bottom of the sixth, giving Minot another shot at widening their lead heading into the top of the seventh. Jacob Pearl first took the initiative with an RBI single that allowed Ethan Reader to score. Henry Allen also hit an RBI single during the very next at bat that brought in Ryan Castro. Those were the only two runs of the inning, but with the score then at 9-5, the MoonDogs would need to double their runs in order to take the lead.

Mankato had an aggressive bottom of the seventh inning, loading the bases with just one out on the board at deadline. Check Saturday’s paper for final results.