The Big Sticks were at home to take on the Canyon County Spuds in game one of their three game set Friday night. 

On the mound for The Sticks was Josh Tucker. Tucker came into the game with a 4-1 record, and a 2.88 ERA. He leads the team in strikeouts and ERA for the year. He was matched up against Joe Ihli who came into the game 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA. 

The Big Sticks came into this game struggling on offense, but you wouldn’t be able to tell if you only watched this game. The scoring started in the bottom of the first when Angel De La Cruz stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out. He got hit by a pitch to drive in a run putting the Big Sticks up 1-0 early. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t be able to capitalize again that inning. 

In the bottom of the third, The Sticks’ offense came through yet again. Derek Gellos stepped up to the plate with one on and one out in the inning. He was able to drive a single to the outfield that would bring De La Cruz in from second. The very next at bat, Eric Martinez doubled to drive in the second run of the inning. Wyatt Setian came up next and made it three hits in a row for The Big Sticks as he drove an RBI double of his own. At the end of the third inning, the Sticks were up 4-0. 

Joe Ihli was relieved in the sixth inning for Canyon County by Noah Stevens. Ihli tossed five innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits, while walking and striking out three. Stevens came into the game with a 3-2 record, and an 11.33 ERA. 

No more scoring came until the top of the seventh inning, when Canyon County scored the only run they could off of Josh Tucker. Zach Tallerman led off the inning for The Spuds and blasted a home run over the left center field wall, making it 4-1 Big Sticks. 

The Sticks would answer right back in the bottom half of the inning. Eric Martinez went back up to the plate with runners on the corners and nobody out. Angel De La Cruz would score his second run of the game thanks to a wild pitch. Martinez would walk to make it two on with nobody out still. A couple of batters later Austin Bunn smacked a double to the outfield that drove in another run, making it 6-1 Badlands. Alex Thurston had a sacrifice fielder's choice to score another run. Then a couple of batters later, Ryan Stafford stepped up to the plate with two on and two out in the inning. He drove a bases clearing double to the outfield making it 9-1 Big Sticks at the end of the seventh. 

Josh Tucker was relieved by Colin Smith in the eighth inning. Tucker threw seven full innings, giving up one run on two hits, while walking four and striking out ten. In a game that felt like a must-win scenario for the Sticks, Tucker really produced and carried his team to a win. Smith came into the game with a 6.43 ERA and no wins or losses. 

The Spuds were able to score one run off Smith in the eighth, when Joey Grabanski lined a single to make it 9-2. 

In the bottom of the inning, The Spuds would bring in their last reliever of the game; Kaleb Rashoff. Rashoff came into the game with an 0-1 record, and a 9.39 ERA. The Sticks were able to get a run off him, thanks to a bases loaded walk from Anthony Garrett. 

Mason Hoover came into the game to close things out for the sticks. Colin Smith threw one total inning, giving up one run on one hit and two walks. Hoover came into the game with no record and hasn’t given up a run all season. He continued that stretch and closed the game out for The Big Sticks, who won this game 10-2. 

The Sticks kept pace with the Tommyknockers last night and are still 1.5 games back from second place in the division. They are now 7-7 in the second half. The Spuds dropped to 5-10 in the second half and are in last place in the Lewis Division. 

Notable Performances: 

Josh Tucker: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 10 SO (Player of the game) 

Ryan Stafford: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB

Angel De La Cruz: 2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI

Dereck Gellos: 3-5, 3 R, RBI

Be sure to catch the Big Sticks attempt to take the series from the Spuds Saturday evening at Dakota Community Bank and Trust Ballpark. First pitch is at 6:05 MT.