A bit of rain could not spoil what was a great day at Corbett Field for the Minot Honeybees. In fact, the rain added to excitement. A 10-0 win started the home half of a six-game series with the Mankato Habaneros on a positive note for Minot.
Trinity Gregg collected the Bees’ first hit in the first inning. With two outs, three straight singles brought her across home for the game’s first run. In the second inning, Minot was back to it with the bats, getting a solo home run from Cadey Shipman to go up 2-0. That same inning, the Honeybees bunched together another three hits to take a three-run lead heading into the third.
Starting pitcher Julianna Verni worked out of small jams in her short three-inning start. Verni has been heavily depended on as the Bees’ go-to arm and the early lead allowed Minot to save their ace for tomorrow’s doubleheader.
The big inning for the Honeybees would be the bottom of the third. With sheets of rain descending on Corbett Field, the Bees kept getting base hits in droves. Aided by two critical errors, the Honeybees were up 6-0 before Habaneros’ starting pitcher Sailor Hall was removed. Rain caused rough pitching conditions, and a lack of grip on the softball led to a lack of control. Three walks and a hit batter kept Minot moving around the bases and a two-RBI single poked into right field by Chloe Cummings put the Bees ahead 9-0 before innings’ end.
Jackie Albrecht was brought in to close out the game and would also protect the shutout. Verni and Albrecht combined to allow one hit over five innings in the circle.
The game ended early on a solo home run by Bella Cimino with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Since Sunday against Mankato, Cimino has gone for eight hits and two home runs. Her game-ending homer brought about the end of Wendesday’s game, a 10-0 Minot win.
Bella Cimino was named SportClips MVP for her two-hit and three RBI day, with her home run going down as the First Command Play of the Game. Julianna Verni, at 62 mph, earned the SRT Fastest Pitch. To go along with 13 hits, the Honeybees drew five Buffalo Wild Wings Walks in the Sky Dancer Casino Big Win.
