The Badlands Big Sticks headed to the capital of South Dakota to face off in a 4 game weekend series versus division opponent, Pierre Trappers. The Big Sticks took 3 out of the 4, winning game one handily 10-1. Big Sticks survived a late rally from the Trappers, that ended in dramatic fashion, in game two 3-2. Game three was an offensive shootout as the teams combined for a total of 27 runs, with the Trappers winning 16-11. The Big Sticks would bounce back and win the series in game four by a score of 7-5.

Game One

The first game of the road trip was a pitching duel between Trappers starter and Big Sticks Mason Schwellenbach as both teams were left scoreless for the first five innings of the game. The Big Sticks opened the scoring in big fashion, scoring 5 in the top of the 6th. The Big Sticks started the inning with back to back to back singles from Wyatt Setian, Clayton Hale, and Trey Guajardo. Gaylan Young then hit a sacrifice fly to left bringing in Setian as the first run of the game. The next batter, Marcus Hughes, then reached base on a Trapper error that scored Hale reloading the bases with one out. The Big Sticks were not done as Caydn Schwabe would tack in another run with a single of his own and then a sacrifice fly from Braden Cordes scored yet another Big Sticks run. After a Trapper pitching change Carson Lundmark would cash in the 5th run of the inning with a single, leaving the score at 5-0 Big Sticks. After a three up three down inning from Joel Colledge, the Big Sticks would cash in three more after back to back one out doubles by Trey Guajardo and Gaylan Young, a sacrifice fly by Nick Wimmers, and another Trappers error, extending the lead to 8-0 Big Sticks. The Trappers would fail yet again to score as Colledge would set them down in order for the third straight inning. However, the Trappers would finally break into the score column in the bottom of the 8th, scoring one making it 8-1 Big Sticks. The Big Sticks responded and got that run right back and more in the top of the 9th. Big Sticks would draw 4 walks in the inning, one that walked in a run, and cash in another after a Trapper balk and error. The Trappers would fail to scratch any across making the final 10-1 Big Sticks in game one.

Game Two

The second game of the series was a pitching duel the entire game as both team pitching staffs kept the offense at bay. The Big Sticks would score early after Wyatt Setian led off the top of the 2nd with a single and came into score the next batter after a two-run shot by Conner VanCleave, giving the Big Sticks the lead 2-0. After a scoreless inning and a half, the Big Sticks would add to their lead. Setian would record a one out single and two batters later steal second, putting him in scoring position with two outs. Trey Guajardo would draw a four pitch walk and Logan Williams would cash in Setian after a Trappers error extending the lead to 3-0. After shutout innings from Hunter Omlid, Parker Stohr and Michael Reddick, the Trappers would put together a rally that ended in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the 9th. The Trappers would record back to back one out singles putting runners at first and third. After a Trapper strikeout, the runners would advance, scoring one, off of a passed ball. The Trappers would then draw a walk putting the tying run at 1st. The next Trapper would split the gap in the outfield that scored one while also ending the game after an unbelievable relay and tag by the Big Sticks throwing the tying runner out at the plate, leaving the final at 3-2 Big Sticks.

Game Three

The third game of the series was an offensive shootout, as both teams combined for 30 hits and 27 runs. The Trappers would open the scoring in game one by scoring one curiosity of a sacrifice fly to right. The Big Sticks would immediately answer after Jacob Flores hits his first homerun of the year, oppo taco style, scoring Hale. The Big Sticks were not done in the top of the 2nd. A walk drawn by Nick Wimmers followed by a single by Trey Guajardo, two batters later, would put runners on the corners with one out. Wimmers would come around and score after a sacrifice fly by Mason Schwellenbach, giving the Big Sticks the lead 3-1. The Trappers strung together five hits, including an RBI single and three run homerun giving them the lead 5-3. The Trappers would add to their lead in the 5th by scoring two more giving them the lead 7-3. The Big Sticks answered in the 6th after Flores hit his second homerun of the game, cutting the lead in half at 7-5 Trappers. However, the Trappers would respond in their half of the 6th scoring three of their own, making it 10-5 Trappers, going into the 7th. The Big Sticks loaded the bases to begin the inning curiosity of a single from Lundmark, walk by Setian, and VanCleave wearing one. The next Big Stick batter, Clayton Hale, launched a grand slam that cleared the bases and put the Big Sticks down one with nobody out. The Big Sticks went down in order following the homer, but not before the damage was done. The Trappers barely blinked as they scratched together five of their own, extending their lead to 15-9. The Big Sticks ate away at the Trappers lead in the 8th after back to back singles from Lundmark and Setian came around to score after a double from Conner VanCleave, leaving the score at 15-11 going into the bottom of the 8th. The Trappers scored one more in the bottom of the 8th, again extending their lead to 16-11 going into the top of the 9th. The Big Sticks threatened after putting runners on the corners with two outs but would unfortunately come up short and drop game three by a score of 16-11.

Game Four

The Big Sticks wasted no time getting on the board in the final game of the road series. After back to back walks drawn by Braden Cordes and Carson Lundmark, the Trappers would make an error that score Cordes giving the Big Sticks the early lead at 1-0. The Trappers would respond and scratch across one of their own after a lead off walk came around to score curiosity of a two double, tying the game at 1. The Big Sticks would get it right back after Gavin Sloan advanced to third on back to back passed balls and came into score on a fielders’ choice by Trey Guajardo. In the bottom of the 2nd the Trappers scored two more giving them their first lead of the game at 3-2 heading into the 3rd. After a Big Stick strikeout Conner VanCleave would get the inning going with a single. VanCleave advanced to second after tagging up on a deep fly ball to right by Schwellenbach, putting a runner at second with two outs in the inning. The Big Sticks would draw back to back walks and record back to back singles from Mac McCroskey and Trey Guajardo scoring three. The Big Sticks would cash in their fourth run of the inning after a Trapper error putting the score at 6-3. Which is where the score would remain until the bottom of the 5th when the Trappers scratched across one cutting into the lead. The Trappers would again cut into the lead in the bottom of the 7th scoring another run making it 6-5 Big Sticks. After a scoreless 8th by both sides the Big Sticks would add an insurance run late after an RBI double by Jacob Flores brought in Schwellenbach putting the lead at 7-5 Big Sticks. Aaron Ginn would slam the door in the bottom of the ninth and set the Trappers down in order, giving the Big Sticks the win 7-5.

The Badlands Big Sticks return home tonight at 6:35pm in a cross-division matchup with the Fremont Moo. The Big Sticks will play at 6:35pm on Tuesday and Wednesday as well against the Moo before their first off day on July 16th. The Big Sticks are looking to answer after dropping the first series with the Moo two games to one.