The Big Sticks swept their first road series of the season against the Mankato Moondogs, winning 11-6 and 7-5. The offense, with 18 runs in two games, exploded and saw more patience and better contact at the plate.

In the first game on Wednesday, the Big Sticks and Moondogs had a couple of zeros through the first two frames before the Big Sticks put up a 3-spot in the 3rd inning from a couple of errors in the inning and a Jayden Sanchez double.

The Moondogs answered right back in the home half of the 3rd with a run of their own from an error on the Big Sticks’ defense as well. Both teams played poorly defensively all night and couldn’t flash the leather too much.

Noah Canter for the Moondogs ripped an RBI single in the bottom of the 4th to cut the Big Sticks’ lead to 1 run, 3-2 after 4 frames in Mankato.

In the top of the 6th inning, the Big Sticks rallied for 3 more runs with a bases-loaded walk from Jadyn Roberts and a two-RBI single from Coy DeFury. The top of the order produced in a big way for the first time this season for Badlands.

In the 7th inning, both teams tallied 3 more runs each, starting with Big Sticks’ Luis Rodriguez scoring on a wild pitch. Connor Massimini, Big Sticks’ leadoff hitter, comes through with a two-RBI single to take a commanding lead.

The 7th inning stretch woke up the offense for the Moondogs cutting the deficit to 9-5 with a RBI single from Cooper Neville and a pair of runs on a bases loaded walk and groundout.

Jayden Sanchez cashed in again with an RBI single in the top of the 8th for the Big Sticks, and the Moondogs scored 1 run in the bottom of the 8th with another RBI from Cooper Neville, who contributed a multi-RBI game.

The Big Sticks added 1 final run in the top of the 9th on a sac fly off the bat of Connor Massimini with 3 RBIs on the night. The Big Sticks won the game 11-6, finishing the game with the most runs scored in a game in the early season in their first road game.

The Badlands Big Sticks (3-1) continued their hot start to the season, securing a 7-5 win over the Mankato MoonDogs (1-3) on Thursday night. 

The Big Sticks spotted a quick couple of runs in the first inning to go up 2-0, thanks to a sac fly from second baseman Troy Berg (Augustana University, MN). Along with a wild pitch that saw Coy Defury (Texas State University) come home for a run.

The MoonDogs would respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the first to trail 2-1. MoonDogs starting pitcher Sam Stockman was pulled after the first inning, allowing 1 H, 2 R, 2 ERA, 2 BB, 1 K. 

Both teams would add an additional run in the second inning, with Badlands leading 3-2 heading into the fourth inning. 

The Big Sticks took over in the top of the fourth off the bat of local product Jadyn Roberts (Dickinson State University), who launched a three-run homer to left field to put the Big Sticks up 6-2. 

Badlands would drive in another run to start the fifth with an RBI single from Jayden Sanchez (UNLV), going up 7-2.

The MoonDogs were able to respond in the bottom of the fifth with Evan Saunders and Noah Canter recording RBI singles and Cooper Neville coming in to score off of an error to trail the Big Sticks 7-5 heading into the sixth inning. 

Big Sticks starting pitcher Lucas Winburn (Kaskaskia CC) logged a 2 ERA, 2 R, 3 H, 0 BB through four innings of work. 

Badlands have been aggressive at the plate, finding good contact on the ball, and have had strong pitching throughout the start of the season. Supported by sharp defence as they ride a three-game win streak heading into their next series. 

The Big Sticks will look to continue their success, shifting their focus to the undefeated St. Cloud Rox (4-0), facing off on Friday, May 30th and Saturday, May 31st.