Written by Kyle Tatelbaum

BISMARCK, ND – The Larks take game one of a six-game series with the Minot Hot Tots in an electric ten innings of baseball. 

In the bottom of the tenth inning with an extra-inning runner on second base, still seeking his first hit of the season, Will Millard (Hillsdale CC) rocketed the first pitch he saw up the middle to walk it off for the Larks. 

Pitching was electric on both ends through the first seven innings tonight, beginning with Bismarck starting pitcher Lucas Burgum (University of Mary). Burgum tossed a gem in his first appearance of the season, throwing six shutout innings of one-hit baseball while striking out seven batters. Hot Tots starter, Hudson Yarbrough (Alvin CC) threw three innings of one-hit ball while striking out three Larks. Will Smith (Alabama State University) followed out of the bullpen, delivering four innings of work while striking out six batters allowing just one unearned run after Alex Alva (University of Jamestown) singled and later scored with two outs after a throwing error from the Minot shortstop. 

Enas Hayden (Purdue) took over in relief for Bismarck in the seventh inning, holding a one-run lead in his season debut. The Hot Tots would take the lead in the top of the next inning off of Larson Sholtz ( Spartanburg Methodist College), scoring three runs on a bases-clearing 3-RBI triple from Elias Fiddler (University of Utah) with two outs in the eighth. 

The Larks scratched a run home in the bottom half of the frame after a Theo Bryant (Tennessee Tech) walk and Isaac Huettl (North Iowa Area Community College) hit-by-pitch put two runners on base. With two outs in the inning after a Bismarck pitch-clock violation strikeout, Erick Dessens (Paradise Valley CC) singled, allowing Bryant to score on another error from the Minot shortstop to bring the Larks within a run.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Alex Alva legged out his third infield single of the day and advanced to second after Mathis Meurant reached on a hit-by-pitch. Brady Krzciok (Central Michigan) loaded the bases in the very next at-bat after reaching on an error by the Minot first baseman in what could have been a game-ending double play. Down to their last out, Bismarck tied the game after a 2-0 fastball clipped the foot of Isaac Huettl to bring in Alva. 

Haldon Craig (Doane College) was electric tonight, keeping the Larks in the game while recording the last seven outs of the ballgame all on strikeouts. Craig entered the game in the eighth inning with a runner on third base and twisted the momentum in favor of the Larks with a strikeout of Minot catcher Trae Cassidy to end the inning. Craig struck out the side in order in the top of the ninth, flapping his wings as he walked off of the mound ahead of a tie game going into the tenth inning. After the extra-inning runner advanced to third on a passed ball in the top of the tenth, with the go-ahead run just 90 feet away Craig ramped the velocity up to 95 miles per hour to strike out the side for the second consecutive inning and put the Larks in a position to walk off the game.

On fireworks night at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark, Larks catcher Will Millard decided he would start the show early, shooting a single up the middle of the infield allowing Nathan Martinez (College of San Mateo) to slide in for the final and winning run. 

The Larks will return to Bismarck Municipal Ballpark for game two of the six-game series with the Minot Hot Tots. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm. Tickets can be secured at larkstickets.com.