The first road game of the season wasn’t filled with the offensive firepower like the opening homestand for the Minot Hot Tots. On Wednesday night in Willmar, Minnesota, the Hot Tots fell short against the Willmar Stingers, 1-0.

The Hot Tots had trouble from the start against Willmar starter Gannon Reidinger. He struck out two Hot Tots in a sparkling clean first inning. Reidinger faced the minimum through four innings and kept a no-hit bid going into the fifth.

Chris Daniels was able to break up the no-no with a single, but one hit didn’t break the dam. The Hot Tots were still scoreless, but the pitching staff kept the game close.

In Oliver Brown’s return to the Hot Tots he would surrender a run in the first inning, but the Stinger scoring would end there. Brown twirled 4.2 IP allowing three hits and one earned run with five strikeouts. Immediately after Brown was taken out of his start, the Hot Tots would get the closest to run support all night.

Catcher Nick Kaelin reached on an error by Willmar third baseman Charlie Schau, he also advanced to second on the errant throw. TJ Stottlemyre hit and in-between ground ball and reached base with no outs being recorded. With runners on the corners, Kellan Burke flew out to right field, Kaelin attempted to tag, but was thrown out at home plate. After five-and-a-half, the score remained 1-0, Willmar.

While the Stingers would be held to just that first inning run for the whole night, the pitching efforts from Reidinger and Parker Barraza sealed the win.

Oliver Brown was named SportClips MVP for his start despite picking up a losing decision. Wednesday’s First Command Play of the Game was Brown’s third inning in which he struck out the side.

The Hot Tots will spend one more night in Willmar on Thursday before continuing the six-game road trip in Rochester.