Bismarck, North Dakota- The Minnesota Mud Puppies (5-12, 10-21) defeated the Bismarck Larks (13-16, 29-34) 5-4 at Dakota Community Bank and Trust Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Larks struck first in the bottom of the 1st inning, facing Teagan Yotter of Minnesota. Keegan Landis walked to start the game and scored on a Blade Carver RBI triple. With 1 out, Noah Caceres singled to right, plating Carver and giving Bismarck a 2-0 lead.

The Mud Puppies tied things up in the top of the 2nd against Tate Alexander. Connor Larsen drew a leadoff walk, and Max Pederson smoked a homer to left field, making the score 2-2.

In the top of the 3rd, Brayden Kohls smacked a 2-out single and came home on a Landon Jasper RBI double. The Mud Puppies grabbed a 1-run lead which they would not lose for the rest of the game.

The 4th through 6th innings were scoreless, setting up the top of the 7th for the Mud Puppies, now facing Kenneth Haynes. Carter Sintek reached first and advanced to second on a Nolan Welke hit by pitch. Kohls hit an RBI ground-rule double to left, scoring Sintek. Jasper followed with a sacrifice fly, plating Welke and putting Minnesota up 5-2.

In the bottom of the 7th, Caceres drew a walk and Drew Kleinheider struck out, ending Yotter’s day on the mound. Alex Call came in and hit Trevor Goodwin before throwing a wild pitch, allowing Caceres and Goodwin to advance. Jackson Crider contributed with a sacrifice fly to deep center, bringing Bismarck to within 2.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, Landis made first base on an error from Carter Sintek, who left the game with an injury. Logan Grinnell came in to pitch and surrendered an RBI single to Luke Stulga, making the score 5-4.

Maddux Schrupp entered in the 9th to close the game for Minnesota, facing 4 batters and inducing a Will Husemann groundout to end the game.

Teagan Yotter (3-3) earned his third victory with 6.1 3-run innings, allowing only 2 hits while walking 4 and striking out 3. Bismarck’s Tate Alexander (0-1) took the loss despite a strong start, throwing 5 innings while giving up 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out a career-high 11 batters. Maddux Schrupp (1) picked up the save with a scoreless 9th inning, walking 1.

The Larks turn around to host the Minot Hot Tots in the next chapter of the Dakota Dust-Up Rivalry on Monday at 6:35 p.m.