DICKINSON, ND – The Badlands Big Sticks (29-34 overall, 11-18 second half) fought from behind against the St. Cloud Rox (38-24 overall, 14-12 second half), mounting a 9th inning comeback that ultimately fell one run short on Saturday evening.

After two scoreless innings to start the game, St. Cloud jumped out in front in the bottom of the 3rd inning. A two-run single by Colton Rother started the scoring, then a sacrifice fly by Brett White put the Rox up 3-0. Another run was tallied in the bottom of the 5th by the Rox when Brett Griffiths scored during Jackson Akin’s at-bat.

The Big Sticks put up a lone run in the top of the 7th inning when Cougar Cooke (Arkansas State) singled into center field, plating Ryder Hernandez (Ohio State). St. Cloud got the run back immediately on an Akin sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 7th inning, putting the score at 5-1.

Badlands started a rally in the top of the 9th inning with a Jackson Cionek (East Tennessee State) single. Jace Jarrett (Dawson CC) then hit another single, scoring Cionek from second base. Evan Mann (Odessa CC) followed with another single, bringing the tying run to the plate with one out.

Cooke came up next, and on a 3-1 count, smashed a bases-clearing triple into center field. Jarrett and Mann scored, which brought the Big Sticks just one run away from tying the ballgame. Unfortunately, Cooke was stranded just 90 feet away, as St. Cloud managed two strikeouts to end the game at 5-4.

With the loss and the Willmar Stingers win, the Big Sticks have been eliminated from second half playoff contention. While still mathematically able to make the playoffs based on overall record, Badlands would need great fortune to take the spot.

The Big Sticks will look to snap the six-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon against the St. Cloud Rox, with first pitch scheduled for 3:05 p.m. MST.