Alex Eisen/MDN Minot High catcher Abigail Barnum gets the force out at home plate Thursday evening against Bismarck Legacy in the first round of the West Region Tournament at the South Hill Softball Complex.

Lead-off hitter Landry Maragos is accustomed to dropping down slap bunts and using her wheels to reach base. The Minot High junior outfielder found herself taking on a new role Thursday in the first round of the West Region Tournament.

With runners in scoring position, Maragos was given the green light to square up and swing away.

The end result was five RBIs off two timely hits for Maragos in a 11-7 victory over Bismarck Legacy at the South Hill Softball Complex.

“My role on the team originally is to get on base,” Maragos said. “Halfway through, that changed with the bases loaded. So, I got up and knew I needed to get a line drive out there. And that’s what I did… When I know I have to get runners in, I shorten up my swing so it’s quicker and I use more hips.”

The No. 5-seeded Sabers (13-14) started strong with two runs in the top of the first inning off MHS starting pitcher Paige Ackerman. Taylor Gerving ripped an RBI single to center field and Taryn Allmaras provided an RBI double.

Allmaras then drew a bases loaded walk in the third inning to put Legacy up 3-1.

The No 4-seeded Majettes (19-12) used a six-run fourth inning to take control of the game. Maragos cleared the bases with a three-run triple, Ackerman helped her own cause with an RBI single and Hailey Espe came through with a two-out, two-run double.

“We have been working on that,” MHS head coach Gerard Cederstrom said about Maragos’ performance. “Landry wants to hit, hit, hit. Bases loaded and I just said, ‘Now, it’s time. Put your barrel on it and see it.’ She just laughed and hit it. Got to third base and smiled. Then, she had another big hit later.”

Minot’s 8-3 lead was slashed to 8-6 in the top of the fifth. Legacy got RBIs from MacKenzie Boone, Ellie Miller and Tori Olson, who replaced Casey Lovsness in the circle during the fourth inning.

Another clutch, two-run single by Maragos and an RBI sacrifice fly by Jaycie Rostad in the fifth inning pushed the Majettes’ lead back up to 11-6.

“We put up 11 runs, I’ll take that,” Cederstrom said.

Allmaras picked up her third RBI with a single in the sixth, but that marked the end of Legacy’s offensive production.

Ackerman pitched a complete game and will likely pitch all, if not most, of Minot’s innings in the West Region Tournament.

“Paige (Ackerman) had a few innings where she was really working,” Cederstrom said. “But, we strung our hits together and pushed some runs across.”

Minot will play No. 1-seeded Bismarck High in the semifinals at 3 p.m. this afternoon at the South Hill Softball Complex. The winner claims a spot at the state tournament.

“We have to play a good game and Paige (Ackerman) has to throw well,” Cederstrom said. “We have to get after it defensively and hope they hit it at us, then we can survive.”

The other semifinal contest will feature No. 2 Century against No. 3 Dickinson at 5 p.m.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 8 Williston takes on No. 5 Legacy and No. 7 Mandan faces No. 6 Jamestown in a pair of loser-out contests.

Alex Eisen covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.