The Big Sticks traveled to Minot on Wednesday evening to take on the Sabre Dogs in game one of their two game set.

On the mound for the Big Sticks was Parker Stohr. He came into the game with a 5-2 record and a 3.20 ERA. In his last outing, he held the Sabre Dogs to zero runs over five innings, and he was looking for a repeat performance today. On the bump for the Sabre Dogs was Dominick Parkhurst. He sported a 2-1 record with a 4.44 ERA coming into this one.

Only six days prior to this matchup, the same teams faced each other with the same starters on the mound. It was a pitcher’s duel with the Sticks winning 1-0 in a rain shortened game. In Wednesday's game, both pitchers had solid starts again.

The first score came in the top of the fourth inning. Mason Hoover came up to the plate with runners on first and second, and two outs. Hoover was able to line a single to bring in the runner from second making it 1-0 Big Sticks. That was the only run either starter would give up in this one.

Both pitchers were relieved in the sixth inning. Stohr was relieved by Pat Miner, another all-star for the Sticks. Stohr pitched 5 shutout innings, only giving up four hits while allowing one walk and striking out three. Although he didn’t factor into the decision, he was able to lower his ERA to 2.84 after this start. Miner came into the game with a 2-1 record and a 3.16 ERA.

Parkhurst was relieved by Deklan Harper. Parkhurst went five innings and gave up one run on three hits. He allowed one free base and struck out four. Harper came into the game with an 0-1 record and sported a 10.13 ERA.

After the Big Sticks went up 1-0 in the fourth, the Sabre Dogs answered in the sixth. Miner was able to get the first two batters of the inning out but struggled getting the third. He left a hanging off-speed pitch over the middle of the plate and Steven Moretto got all of it. He blasted a two-run home run way over the left field wall to put the Sabre Dogs up 2-1. They continued to rally after the home run as Justin Williams hit a ground rule double over the right field wall, then Dalton Bowling drove him in with a single to the outfield. At the end of the sixth inning the Dogs were up 3-1.

Harper was relieved in the eighth inning by Aaron Suval. Harper pitched two shutout innings for the Dogs, giving up no hits but allowed four walks. He also struck out two. He was able to lower his ERA to 7.36 on the season and improved his record to 1-1. Suval came into the game with a 0-1 record and a 9.21 ERA.

When the Sabre Dogs went up 3-1 in the sixth inning, those would be the last runs of the game. Pat Miner would finish the game out for the Big Sticks in relief. He threw three innings, allowing three runs on 5 hits. He also struck out three over the course of his outing. He took the loss in this one, dropping his record to 2-2 on the year, and bumping his ERA to 3.67.

The Big Sticks drop to 6-6 in the second half of the season and are now 1.5 games back from first place. The Sabre Dogs improve to 8-5 in the second half and are tied with the Tommyknockers for first place in the Lewis Division.

Notable Performances:

Parker Stohr: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO (Player of the game)

Mason Hoover: 1-4, RBI

Wyatt Setian: 1-3, BB

Be sure to catch the Big Sticks attempt to take this game back on Thursday evening at Dakota Community Bank and Trust Ballpark in Dickinson. First pitch is at 6:05 MT.