DICKINSON, ND – The Badlands Big Sticks (1-2) took the lead early on in the home opener, but could not contain the St. Cloud Rox (2-1) offense, eventually losing the lead in the 9th inning and dropping the contest 8-5.

Badlands got off to a hot start, scoring the first run of the game in the 1st inning when Chayton Fischer (UTRGV) singled to drive in Cooper Rasmussen (Cal State – Bakersfield). The Big Sticks then tallied two more runs in the 2nd, scoring one on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Fox (New Orleans) and the other when Nathan Nance Jr. (NW FL State JC) singled into left field.

Ismael Quintero (Cal State – LA) had a solid start for the Big Sticks, going 5 innings and giving up seven hits and two runs, both of which coming in the 4th inning when Jackson Akin hit a solo home run to center and Nolan Geislinger singled to bring home the other.

The Rox tied the game in the top of the 6th at 3-3 when Geislinger hit a triple into center field with two outs. Badlands countered in the bottom of the 6th by scoring on a wild pitch and an RBI groundout by Rasmussen, putting the scoreline at 5-3 at the end of the 6th inning.

St. Cloud kept clawing back, scoring one run in the 7th inning when Cole Decker hit a solo home run to right field. The Rox tied the game in the 8th inning when Justin Lang singled to right field and brought across one run.

Entering the 9th inning tied at 5-5, St. Cloud loaded the bases with no outs. After Carson Bantz (Lake Land) got the next two batters out, Geislinger came up and knocked a single into right field, scoring two runs. The Rox tacked on one more when Akin scored during the next at-bat.

The Big Sticks went down in order in the bottom of the ninth, ending the game 8-5. This marks the first time Badlands have failed to win 3 of their first 4 games in a season since joining the Northwoods League in 2024.

The Big Sticks will play one more game to end the series against the Rox before two off days. First pitch of the series finale is set for Thursday night at 6:35 MST.