The Minot Hot Tots (18-32) were at it again on Thursday, July 18, for the beginning of their series against La Crosse Loggers (27-22) after trumping the Mankato MoonDogs (26-23) by a 10-3 score on Wednesday.

The Hot Tots carried over their hot hitting into Thursday evening, putting up two runs in the top of the first innings. Abe Affholter scored the game’s first run off Adrian Dominguez. Anthony Potestio also scored off Blake Penso put out..

La Crosse scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Matthew Miura scored an unearned run off RJ Hamilton sacrifice fly to close on the Hot Tots lead. The Hot Tots led 2-1 at the end of the third inning.

Evan Dempsey’s two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning extended the Hot Tots lead, with Penso also scoring on the play. The Hot Tots led 4-1 at this point.

The Hot Tots kept their foot on gas in the top of the eighth inning, adding two more runs to take a 6-1 lead. Baughcum’s two-run home run, also allowed Dempsey to score on the play.

La Crosse ended their scoreless drought in the bottom of the eighth inning. A Mitchell singled to left field allowed Hamilton and Case Sanderson to score two runs. The Hot Tots led 6-3 at this point. Luke Anderson and Derrick Mitched scored on Sebastian David single to left field as La Crosse now trails by one run. The Hot Tots led 6-5 at this point.

The Hot Tots batted 8-for-37 and had three errors. Dominguez had a RBI. Penso batted 1-for-4, scored a run and had a RBI. Baughcum batted 3-for-4, scored a run, a home run and had two RBI. Keanu Jacobs-Guishard batted 1-for-3. Potesio scored a run and walked once. Affholter batted 1-for-5 and scored a run. Dempsey batted 2-for-4, scored two runs, a home-run and had two RBI.

Griffin Shearon pitched five innings, allowed three hits, one run, walked three and struck out three batters. Ayden Sauerbrei pitched one inning and walked two. Jacob Mallozzi pitched one inning and allowed two hits. Jaden Alberson pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowed three hits, four runs, walked two and struck out one batter. Tanner Mueller pitched one and one-third inning, allowed one hit, walked one and struck out two batters.

La Crosse batted 9-for-31 and had three errors. Miura batted 1-for-4, scored a run and walked once. Hamilton batted 1-for-4, scored a run and had a RBI. Zach Wadas batted 1-for-3 and walked once. Mitchell batted 1-for-3, scored one run, had two RBI and walked twice. Ian Collier batted 1-for-2 and walked twice. Elijah Ickes batted 2-for-4. Sanderson scored a run and walked three times. Anderson batted 1-for-4 and scored a run. David batted 1-for-4 and had two RBI.

Ozzie Martinez pitched one inning, allowed two runs and walked one. Tyler Albanese pitched six innings, allowed six hits, two runs and struck out five batters. Micah Worley pitched one inning, allowed two hits, two runs and struck out two batters. Tyler Gebb pitched a shutout one inning.