After a much-needed day off for the Larks, Bismarck welcomed back the Duluth Huskies to Bismarck Municipal Ballpark for the series finale of a two-game. After Duluth took game one in dominating fashion on Monday, the Huskies didn’t let go of the gas pedal for game two, routing the Larks by a final of 17-4.
Just like Monday, Duluth used a home run from the two-whole hitter, Raymond Velazquez (Vanderbilt), to strike first, leading 2-0 after a half inning. Then, an inning later, Jack Vanocini (Cal State Fullerton) hit a sacrifice fly to score an unearned run and make the score 3-0.
In the bottom of the second, the Larks would find the scoreboard for the first time. Aaron Biediger (Dallas Richland) and Bradlee Preap (UC San Diego) both collected RBI singles to cut the lead down to 3-2.
However, after scoreless fourth and fifth innings, Duluth scored in the next four consecutive frames, with the Huskies putting up a six-spot in the seventh and a four-spot in the ninth. Duluth scored 17 times on 15 hits and four Lark errors to walk away with a victory. Five different Huskies had multi-hit nights, with Michael Hallquist (Minnesota-Crookston) finishing 2-3 with a three-run homer, and Calyn Halvorson (Utah Valley) collecting three hits, including an RBI double.
For the Larks, Nick Oakley (UC Santa Barbara) went 2-4 with a couple of RBI, while Aaron Biediger and Bradlee Preap also picked up runs driven in.
On the bump, Duluth’s Alex Potter (Nebraska Omaha) was fantastic in his eighth start of the summer, going six complete innings, only giving up two and striking out seven while not giving up a run. He improved to 4-0. Cade Torgerson (Jamestown) got the Loss in his Larks debut, giving up seven earned runs in six innings. Metro Area Fastest Pitch of the Game came in the ninth inning when Larks reliever Justin Goldstein (Middle Tennessee State) hit 89 mph on the radar gun.
The Fetzer Electric Play of the Game came in the eighth inning. Shortstop Nick Oakley made a diving play up the middle to get a force out to help the Larks get out of a jam.
The Larks return home on Thursday to open up a two-game series with the Rochester Honkers. First pitch is at 6:35 pm C.T. It’s also Mascot Thursday! Clark is having some friends come out to the ballpark on Thursdays this summer. You’ll see some familiar faces and some brand-new ones from across the region.
The Larks, for one night only, will also turn into the Missouri River Motorboaters! Be sure to come out and see them in action on Thursday!
