File photo. Minot Honeybees pitcher Ashleigh Heiderscheit winds up in the pitchers circle at Corbett Field in their cancelled home game against the Wausau Ignite. The Honeybees played the Grand Forks Spitfires on Tuesday night, June 23. Nathan Beitler/MDN

An explosive first few innings at the plate for the Minot Honeybees helped carry them over to a dominant win against the Grand Forks Spitfires in grand Forks on Tuesday night, June 23.

The Honeybees kicked off the night with their strongest inning at the plate.

Clare Rettler was the first of the Honeybees to cross home plate. She was on third base with loaded bases when Sara Simon was hit by a pitch, sending her to first base.

Olivia Hernandez sent the next runners home with her two run single RBI to right field, allowing Alex Serbio and Bridget Chapman to score.

Sara Simon rounded out the top of the inning, running home on a putout by Reagan Winn at first base.

The Spitfires closed out the top of the inning after the Honeybees’ fourth run.

The Honeybees defense kept the Spitfires off the scoreboard for three straight innings, while scoring an additional two runs in the top of the second inning and three runs in the top of the third, bringing their lead to 9-0 heading into the fourth inning.

The Spitfires earned their first run of the night on an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, but the Honeybees were able to secure their third out of the inning before Grand Forks could chip away at their nine run deficit.

Cayden Thomas scored for the Honeybees in the top of the fifth inning, bringing Minot to their 10-1 lead that would carry them through the rest of the game.

The Honeybees ended the night with 13 total runs that put them over the Spitfires at the end of the seventh inning.

The Honeybees will stay in Grand Forks for the second game of their two game series against the Spitfires on Wednesday, June 24. Wednesday’s game with the Honeybees’ last before their short break that will see them return to Corbett Field on Sunday, June 28, to face off against the Mankato Habaneros.