The Stingers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, notching two runs in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead thanks to an RBI single from Ryan Tayman along with scoring from a wild pitch. 

Lucas Winburn (Kaskaskia College) had the nod on the mound for the Big Sticks, putting in five innings of work, posting a 7.00 ERA, 4 H, 5 R, 4 K, 3 BB with a 1.40 WHIP. 

Badlands would get on the board in the top of the third from an RBI double from Connor Massimini (East Texas Baptist University), bringing in Jayden Sanchez (UNLV) to score to cut the Stingers’ lead in half, trailing 2-1.

The Stingers added to their lead in the bottom third off the bat of Joey Craig with a RBI single to bring in Matthew Pena to score, putting Willmar up 3-1.

The Big Sticks did most of their damage in the 5th inning, tallying four runs from a couple of earned walks, an error and an RBI single from Massimini, taking a 5-3 lead.

Willmar answered back once again with a two-run shot to left field from Joey Craig, tying the game 5-5 heading to the sixth inning. 

Starting on the diamond for the Stingers was Aiden Hansen, who threw 4.2 IP, 11.12 ERA, 7 H, 5 R, 4 K, 2 BB, with a 1.93 WHIP. 

Big Sticks Gavyn Schlotterback (Kansas) broke the tie in the top of the sixth with an RBI single, and Luis Rodriguez (Dickinson State University) would follow suit, getting an RBI single of his own to put the Big Sticks up 7-5. 

Badlands tacked on to their lead once more in the top of the 7th, spotting two runs to take a 9-5 lead.

Willmar returned fire with a homerun of their own in the bottom of the 7th with Matthew Pena launching a solo shot to deep left field to put the Stingers behind 9-6.

The Big Sticks added another run in the ninth inning, but the Stingers responded with a pair of their own in the bottom of the ninth.

However, the comeback by Willmar would fall short with the Big Sticks holding on to a 10-8 win. 

For Badlands, it was finding some consistency swinging the bat that made all the difference, with the team putting up 13 hits.

The Big Sticks will now shift their focus to a four-game homestand that starts with their first series, taking on the Bismarck Larks.