LARKS WIN 5-1
BISMARCK, ND – Starting pitcher, Carlos Lopez, and the Bismarck Larks dominated Opening Day to come away with the 5-1 victory over the Thunder Bay Border Cats. Bismarck Municipal Ballpark was SOLD OUT for the first day of summer ball. The fans did not go home disappointed.
The fireworks started right off the bat. The Larks jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first. Wyatt Ulrich got things started with a four pitch walk, and Carson Bartles got hit by a pitch to make it second and third with nobody out. Mike Farnell then walked on four pitches to load the bases and was followed up by Matt Warkentin that got the Larks on the board with a fielder’s choice that drove in one run and another after a throwing error. Two batters later, Jacob Nesbit drove in Warkentin on a single into left field.
Lopez settled in nicely after the first inning, not allowing another baserunner till the 4th inning on full count walk. After four innings, Lopez had struck out seven batters. Giving up his next hit in the sixth inning, he turned a double play to end the inning to give the Larks another chance to add insurance runs.
The Larks came through for Lopez after two quick outs, an impressive at-bat by Kyle Stevens to draw the full count walk, back to back singles gave the Larks a 4-1 lead. The Larks got their fifth run of the game in the bottom of the 7th inning when Wyatt Ulrich hit a single into left field to score Tristen Hudson.
Lopez came away with the win on the mound for the Larks, pitching 6.2 innings, striking out eight and only giving up one run.
The unforgettable fireworks show presented by Memory Fireworks capped off the night for the fans at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark as the Larks came away with the 5-1 victory. The Larks will be back in action Wednesday night with a 7:05 p.m. start time against the Thunder Bay Border Cats.
