During the 2018 season, Badlands Big Sticks fans were treated to their fair share of walk-off wins.
On Wednesday, May 29, the crowd witnessed the first of the 2019 season, as shortstop Bryson Ford used a two-run shot to right field to earn the 7-5 walk-off win over the Hub City Hotshots at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark.
"I knew, to (Mason) Schwellenbach, he just threw four straight balls, so I was taking until I got a strike," Ford said. "I was just sitting on a fastball, waiting for something up that I could drive. He threw it up and away and I took it to right field. Luckily, it got out."
Ford paced the team at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.
The Badlands Big Sticks had five innings in which they faced just three Hub City Hotshots batters. The Hotshots went three up and three down in the second, third, fourth, eighth and ninth. The last two, were pivotal for the home team.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Hotshots scored five runs over the sixth and seventh frames. A pair of fly outs and a 3-1 putout in the top of the eighth did away with their momentum and brought the Big Sticks back to the plate.
Once there, left fielder Kaimana Souza Paaluhi scored on a sacrifice fly from catcher Ben Thoma, tying the game at 5-5.
Badlands head coach Hayden Pewitt credited the defensive excellence to the pitching staff.
"I thought (starter Joel) Torres, I thought he was really good tonight," Pewitt said. "He's not gonna overpower anybody, but he competes. He's got the New York mentality, like nothing's given to him and he goes up and gets it."
Torres tossed six innings, striking out four, walking two and allowing two runs on five hits. Joseph Harris, Gabe Lizarraga and Dallas Bryan each threw an inning of relief.
With the Big Sticks up 3-0, the Hotshots got on the board in the sixth, using a pair of errors and three hits to plate third baseman Jake Anderson and second baseman Luke Glascoe. While, Torres struck out right fielder Joe Guidry to end the inning, the damage had been done.
In the seventh, with Joseph Harris in relief for the Big Sticks, the Hotshots kept it going. Left fielder Brandon Kusler started things with a single and designated hitter Parker Borg joined him in the base paths after getting beaned by a pitch. Shortstop Daniel Rodriguez loaded the bases with a single.
The Big Sticks got Rodriguez out following an infield hit from center fielder Austin Allen. Badlands second baseman, Schwallenbach, turned to throw to second, but his heave was off target, so Allen wheeled to second. In the madness, two runs scored, putting the Hotshots up 4-3.
ADVERTISEMENT
Anderson stepped up next, drilling the first pitch he saw for an RBI single, bringing the advantage to 5-3.
"I think focus, to be honest," Hub City head coach Jacob Jarreau said of the change in his team. "I think we took a lot of at-bats off early in the game, situations when we could have blown the game open and we kind of squandered them a little bit. I think we took advantage of them those two innings."
The Badlands win ties the series at one game a piece. The three-game slate between the Big Sticks and the Hotshots will conclude Thursday, May 30, at 6:35 p.m.
"It's always fun to win a game like that for the fans," Ford said. "I'm thankful for everyone coming out. It was awesome to get a win for them."
Badlands Big Sticks 7, Hub City Hotshots 5
HCH 000 002 300 - 5 10 1
BBS 020 010 112 - 7 11 1
HCH, Tyler Stone (5), Wyatt O Bey (2), Ryan Olson (1) Jack Blogg (1) and Ean VonWold. BBS, Joel Torres (6), Joseph Harris (1), Gabe Lizarraga (1), Dallas Bryan (1) and Brayden Olson.
ADVERTISEMENT
W-Bryan. L-Olson. HR-BBS, Ford.
Highlights: HCH, Luke Glascoe 3-4, R; Parker Borg 2-4; Stone 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER), 1 BB, 2 K. BBS, Ford 3-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI; Souza Paaluhi 2-4, R; Nate Sanders 1-5, R; Torres 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 4 K.
