DICKINSON, ND – The Badlands Big Sticks (10-9) struggled at the plate against the Mankato MoonDogs (8-12), which shut down Badlands’ hot bats on Monday night.

Starting pitching for both sides shut down the offense for the first 4 innings, with both sides struggling to find base runners against Big Sticks starter Shane Holman (Butler CC) and Nick Johnson.

In the 5th inning, the MoonDogs’ Cole Clark struck a 2-run single to the outfield, giving them the lead.

The action continued in the 6th for Mankato when Evan Saunders hit a deep home run to center field that extended their lead to 3-0.

Cooper Rasmussen (FIU) led off the 6th inning with a solo home run for the Big Sticks, which would be the lone run scored for Badlands, making it a 3-1 game.

Evan Rolbiecki added two more for the MoonDogs on a single to center in the 8th inning that would provide the insurance needed to win 5-1 over the Big Sticks.

The Big Sticks now trail the season series against the MoonDogs 3-2 and look to tie the series against Mankato on Tuesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. MST.