Bismarck, North Dakota- The Minot Hot Tots (13-19, 26-42) won the shootout against the Bismarck Larks (16-17, 32-35) in the final game of the Dakota Dust-Up rivalry in 2026.

The Hot Tots struck in the top of the 1st against Larks starter Luke Pilot. Aiden Yochim slapped a 2-out RBI single to center field, scoring Adrian Dominguez and putting Minot up 1-0.

Minot put up 2 more in the 4th, with a Jaxon Goldberg double to lead off the inning. Joe DuSell singled to center, scoring Goldberg. Alex Altmann came through with an RBI triple to right center.

The Larks ganged up on Minot starter Alex Moran in the bottom of the 4th, starting with a Will Husemann RBI single to right. With the bases loaded and 2 outs, Moran threw a wild pitch, scoring Jesse Contreras, and walked Keegan Landis. With Blade Carver batting, another wild pitch got past Connor Dietsch and all the runners advanced. Carver then hit an RBI single to shortstop, with an errant throw plating run number 5 in the inning.

Not to be outdone, Minot put up 6 in the 5th. Goldberg started with an RBI groundout, plating Dietsch. The Hot Tots then loaded the bases for Adrian Dominguez, who slapped a 2-run single to right. Altmann followed with a 3-run homer, putting Minot back up 9-5.

In the bottom of the 5th, Karter Scott hit a 3-run homer off Evan Cichanofsky, scoring Contreras and Husemann. Clay Cook singled and moved to second, coming home on a Landis RBI single, tying things up. Bismarck loaded the bases, and Trevor Goodwin drew a go-ahead walk off Lance Mittelman, putting Bismarck up 10-9.

Facing Kenneth Haynes in the 6th, Micah McCoy hit a bases-clearing double with 2 outs, reclaiming the lead. Yochim drove him in with an RBI single, giving Minot the lead 13-10.

The Hot Tots sent their last run across in the top of the 9th against Andrew Torres. They loaded the bases, and Huettl came home on a wild pitch, yielding the final score: 14-10.

Kenneth Haynes (0-4) took the fall, throwing 3.1 innings while giving up 4 earned runs on 8 hits and 3 walks, striking out 3. Minot’s Lance Mittelman (3-2) earned the win, throwing 4.1 scoreless innings while allowing 2 hits, walking 3, and striking out 2.

The Larks finish their season on the road against the division-leading Willmar Stingers, with first pitch on Friday scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Bill Taunton Stadium.