Early in game one, it looked as if things would be a pitchers duel. 

Following an hour and a half rain delay, both starting pitchers Dominic Parkhurst for Pierre and Carson Tonini for Souris Valley were rolling. Both hurlers, being from Minot State University, reeled in hitters for the first two innings, with no tallies until the bottom of the third. 

In that frame, the Sabre Dogs struck first thanks to an error by shortstop Michael Herrera. Following this, Crews Taylor smacked a double, and the Sabre Dogs took a 3-0 advantage. 

Souris Valley would tally one in both the fourth and fifth, including a solo shot by Taylor, and all seemed lost for Pierre. Tonini was relishing on the mound, and exited after six innings, allowing just one hit and striking out 11 batters faced. 

Parkhurst went five in a no decision, striking out and walking a pair. 

Then, in the seventh, a Trapper rally. With reliever Matt Sartwell on the bump, Pierre loaded the bases with nobody out, and on a 1-0 pitch, Niko Piazza uncorked a fastball over the left field wall to cut the deficit to 5-4. The Trappers leveled the game in the same inning on an RBI flyout by Ken Scott, making it 5-5. 

But Souris Valley didn't quit, scoring a pair of runs on reliever Tiger Cox. A key play in the frame was an error at second base by Billy Moreland, who was unable to handle a grounder that could have potentially ended the inning with a double play. 

At 7-5, the Sabre Dogs added some insurance in the bottom of the eighth when Sam Powers uncorked a single into left and brought the advantage to 9-5. 

Pierre put two runners on in the ninth, but failed to score, meaning the Trappers must now win the next three in a row to clinch a playoff spot. 

WP: Grillo    LP: Cox

Next Game: Today @ SVS (7:05)