ROX MAKE LATE RUN, STEAL OPENING NIGHT WIN FROM HOT TOTS

By: Owen Patterson

MINOT, ND – It was an eventful night of baseball at the season opener for the Minot Hot Tots. Despite some big positives for the Tots, the visiting St. Cloud Rox would come out victorious in the end, winning 7-5.

Hot Tots’ starting pitcher Jakob Runkel dazzled as the Opening Day starter. In just three innings of work the left-hander totaled three strikeouts. Runkel’s start would be cut after a scoreless third inning.

In the meantime, the Hot Tot offense found its rhythm going up 3-1 after the fourth inning. Offensive highlights included a leadoff double in the second inning by Jack Matousek, who would later score in the inning and an RBI single, also in the second by Tristan Moore.

The fifth inning started off well for St. Cloud, as Tyler Bishop would send a ball over the right-center field fence, bringing the score to 3-2 still in favor of Minot. The home run was just a small part of a huge performance at the plate for Bishop. The St. Cloud third basemen would go 3-4 with five runs batted in on the night.

Minot continued holding off a St. Cloud come back with an RBI by Jaeden Jordahl in the fifth and a go-ahead single by Trae Cassidy in the seventh.

It would be the eighth inning where the Rox took the lead back, relying on Bishop for two more RBIs and adding one more run for insurance in the ninth.

Up 7-5, St. Cloud called on Tommy Gross for the save. After loading the bases with one out, Gross would strike out final two batters and seal the win for the Rox.