SPEARFISH, SD - The Badlands Big Sticks dropped the first game of a three game series with Spearfish in a high scoring affair. The game ended with Spearfish up 12-11 after a walk off single in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Big Sticks got going early and often with a lead-off double by Ryan Walstad in the top of the first inning. Michael Fuhrman would come up to bat next and single up the middle to score Walstad and give the Big Sticks the first run of the ball game. Spearfish would answer in the bottom half of the inning with a sacrifice fly and a two run double to give them a 3-1 lead.

After a scoreless second inning the Big Sticks would tack on two more runs in the top of the third thanks to an RBI single by Connor VanCleave and Gabe Knowles to even up the score. Spearfish was able to regain the lead in the bottom half of the inning by plating one run on a wild pitch that allowed the runner on third to score to give them a 4-3 lead.

With two outs in the top of the fourth inning Souza Paaluhi was able to reach base on an error by Spearfish. A double by Mason Schwellenbach would put runners on second and third for the Big Sticks. Connor VanCleave was able to deliver once again with a two RBI single to give the Big Sticks a one run lead.

Spearfish was able to tie the game up in the bottom of the fifth inning with a double that allowed the runner to score all the way from first base.

In the sixth inning the Big Sticks were able to score a run when Souza Paaluhi drove in Fuhrman with a RBI single. Spearfish used a couple of hits as well as walks and hit by pitches to explode for six runs in the bottom half of the frame and take a commanding 11-6 lead.

The Big Sticks would fight back in the seventh and eighth inning scoring five runs total and tying up the game at eleven runs for each team. A mammoth homerun over the right centerfield wall by Connor VanCleave would score two runs and tie the game up heading into the ninth inning.

After the Big Sticks were blanked in the top half of the ninth inning, Spearfish was able to hit a lead-off single and advance the runner to second on a sacrifice bunt. With one out and a man on second a broken bat single would walk it off for Spearfish and give them a 12-11 victory of the Big Sticks.

The Big Sticks will be back in action against the Sasquatch Saturday night for the second game of a three-game series. First pitch is set for 6:35 (MDT).