The Badlands Big Sticks (10-7) came into this game looking to finish out the road trip strong, playing the last series against the Mankato MoonDogs (7-10) before heading home for an eight-game homestand.

For Badlands, the key for them throughout the road trip has been producing runs with the team scoring eight or more runs in six of their last seven games. 

This offensive production speaks to the kind of depth the team has, not relying on only one or two guys, but getting quality at-bats from the entire lineup. 

Badlands got on the board early in this game in the top of the 2nd, thanks to a couple of MoonDogs mistakes, scoring off a wild pitch and then an error. Shane Miller (University of New Mexico) would also add an RBI double to put the Big Sticks ahead 3-0.

Getting the call on the diamond for Badlands was Justan Autry (Alvin CC), who pitched a solid outing, going 5 IP, 4.80 ERA, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 3 BB.

Mankato added a run in the bottom of the 2nd off a walk to cut the Big Sticks’ lead 3-1.

The Big Sticks would continue to add to their lead in the top of the 5th off the bat of Chayton Fischer (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), slicing an RBI double that brought Troy Berg (Augustana University MN) into score, putting Badlands ahead 4-1. 

For the MoonDogs on the mound it was starting pitcher Ean DiPasquale who logged 5.1 IP, 2.45 ERA, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 K, 2 BB. 

Badlands generated two more runs in the 7th off of once again a wild pitch and an error, making their lead 6-1. Mankato would respond in the home half of the 7th, scoring off another walk to trail 6-2. 

The MoonDogs would tally another run in the 8th inning to trail 6-3 before the Big Sticks would finish the game out strong, spotting four runs in the 9th inning with back-to-back 2-RBI singles from Ryan Muizelaar (University of Jamestown) and Gavyn Schlotterback (Kansas) as the Big Sticks would hold on to a 10-3 win. 

For the Big Sticks, it was continuing to stay patient and have competitive at-bats along with capitalizing on MoonDog errors, which helped propel them to victory. 

Badlands will look to close out the road trip winning five of the six games as they take on the MoonDogs once more tonight with first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m. CDT.