Eighth-Inning Meltdown Costs the Big Sticks, Losing 10-6 to Duluth

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Northwoods Badlands Big Sticks

Eighth-Inning Meltdown Costs the Big Sticks, Losing 10-6 to Duluth

June 20, 2025 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Badlands Big Sticks News Release


The Badlands Big Sticks (13-10) came into Thursday night's game against the Duluth Huskies (15-11) with their sights set on winning four in a row with four games left on their home stand.

Unfortunately for the Big Sticks, after a hard-fought start to the game, things quickly unravelled in the 8th inning for Badlands, giving up six runs, going on to lose 10-6.

On the mound for the Big Sticks was redshirt sophomore Justan Autry (Alvin CC). The right-hander from Angelton, TX, put in six innings of work, giving up a 4.29 ERA, 8 H, 2 ER, 5 K, 1 BB.

It was the Big Sticks getting on the board first in the bottom of the third, thanks to a Zach Gingrich (Texas State University) sac-fly RBI to put Badlands in front 1-0.

The Huskies responded in the top of the 5th off the bat of Tommy Farmer, launching a solo-shot to left field, tying the game 1-1.

Duluth added another run in the next inning with a pinch-hit RBI double from Zan Von Schlegell, putting the Huskies ahead 2-1.

Both teams generated two runs in the 7th inning to make the score 4-3 Huskies heading into the eighth.

It was the 8th inning where the wheels started to fall off for the Big Sticks as Duluth scored six runs to take a 10-5 lead.

The Huskies scored off of a wild pitch, an E2, an E4, a couple of RBI singles and a sacfly RBI with the Big Sticks continuing to make mistake after mistake.

Badlands would add a pair of runs in the home half of the 8th off of a Khalil Walker (University of New Mexico) RBI single and an earned walk by Troy Berg (Augustana University, MN).

Big Sticks tallied another run in the bottom of the 9th with Connor Massimini (East Texas Baptist University) pinch hitting, producing a RBI double, but it would not be enough as the Big Sticks would go on to lose 10-6.

The story of the game for Badlands was the errors they committed, which cost them the game. Along with the base running of the Huskies collecting 11 stolen bases, the most Badlands has allowed in any game this season.

The Big Sticks will look to bounce back with a win tonight and avoid getting swept by the Huskies, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. MDT with the game being streamed on ESPN+.



Northwoods League Stories from June 20, 2025


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