Written by Kyle Tatelbaum

(BISMARCK, ND) – The Larks arguably played their best game tonight, notching 16 hits – seven of which for extra bases, nine walks, and no earned runs from the pitching staff.

Starter Cade Torgerson (University of Jamestown) earned the win while delivering his best performance of the season, going five innings and striking out five while not allowing an earned run. Kai Taylor (Augustana University) relived Torgerson in the sixth, lowering his ERA to .075 pitching two clean innings while striking out three. Enas Hayden (Purdue University) slammed the door, striking out two batters while lowering his season ERA to 1.08 after two clean innings. 

Theo Bryant IV (Tennessee Tech) started the party for the Larks in the bottom of the first, extending his hit streak to twelve games, blasting his third home run of the season on a two-run shot over the deepest part of the left field wall.

The Big Sticks recorded their lone run of the game in the top of the second inning. Tyler Tobey (Metro State University of Denver) knocked a double into the right-center field gap with one out and scored after Marcus Romero (South Mountain Community College) put enough spin on a ground ball to the Larks’ third basemen to force an error. 

 Bismarck responded with two more runs in the second inning. Jaron Cotton (University of Nebraska) reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on a two-base throwing error from the Badlands catcher on a dropped third strike from Mathis Meurant. Michael Davinni (University of Utah) followed his roommate Meurant and reached on an error by the third basemen, scoring Cotton. Alex Alva (University of Jamestown) singled to load the bases, enabling Tye Wood to give the Larks a 4-1 lead on a sacrifice fly. 

The Larks extended their lead to six runs in the fourth inning after Michael Davinni and Alex Alex recorded back-to-back singles with one out. On a 3-2 count after five foul balls, CJ Richmond (Western Michigan) laced a groundball to the second basemen who could not make a play, allowing Davinni and the speedy Alva to score. Theo Bryant IV advanced Richmond to third on a double, licensing Joey Baran (Western Kentucky) to score Richmond in the following at-bat on a single. 

Bismarck blew the game open in the seventh, scoring ten runs while sending 14 batters to the plate. Mathis Meurant doubled for the second time to lead off the inning and Michael Davinni followed with a walk. Alex Alva traded places with Davinni at first after grounding into a fielder’s choice, advancing Meurant to third. Tye Wood walked on four pitches to set the stage for CJ Richmond. With the bases loaded Richmond unloaded on a 1-0 fastball blasting a grand slam 400+ feet over the center field wall to put the Larks ahead 9-1. The bases re-loaded still with one out after Theo Bryant walked, Joey Baran singled, and Kyle Hvidsten drew his third walk of the game. Jaron Cotton recorded his first RBI of the season on a bases-loaded walk and Mathis Meurant walked in his second at-bat of the inning to score another run. Alex Alva extended the lead on his third hit of the night, marking the fifth time he’s achieved the feat. Tye Wood then tripled to score two, extending the Larks’ lead to 16 runs. 

 The Larks will be back at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark for a two-game series against the Wilmar Stingers starting Saturday, June 15th at 6:35 PM. Tickets can be secured at https://bismarck-larks.nwltickets.com/