The Badlands Big Sticks evened the series with the Pierre Trappers on Saturday night at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark thanks to lots of hits and a power arm on the mound in Malik Barrington.
Barrington went over five innings striking out 10 batters, but a couple errors by the Big Sticks defense inflated the runs scored on him.
He said his fastball wasn’t as good as it can be, but he made some adjustments and had a good day.
“I go out there to compete. That is my biggest thing and even when I don’t have my good stuff,” Barrington said. “Whatever happens, happens and I had success with it today.”
Gaylan Young, Nathan Sanders and Jacob Flores plated four runs on five hits in the first inning giving Barrington breathing room and the Big Sticks (16-12) the capability to kick the ball around a little bit and still hold on to a lead.
ADVERTISEMENT
After Badlands tacked on two more runs in the second, the Trappers scored three unearned runs in the third, but the Big Sticks still led, 6-3.
Barrington was thankful for the six runs in the first two innings and he said that anytime there is run support early that is a good thing.
Sanders drove in another run in the sixth when he doubled to plate Young and the Big Sticks then added two more runs in the inning to take a commanding 9-3 lead.
The bats made contact with the ball all night long as Badlands totaled 15 hits despite no long shots. Five players had more than one base knock.
“That has been a struggle for us. We have had our best games when we leave the yard,” Badlands head coach Billy Tomblin said. “I have said all season that we have to manufacture runs for us to have continued success. We did that tonight and it is good to see. Hopefully we carry that into tomorrow.”
Flores led the team with three hits, while Sanders drove in three runs and scored two more.
The Big Sticks look to win the series vs. the Trappers with an afternoon first pitch on Sunday at 4:35.
ADVERTISEMENT
