GRAND FORKS — “With two runners on base and two out, Dylan Buchanan hit a routine ground ball to third base.

Instead of an inning-ending out, however, Buchanan beat the throw to first for a run-scoring single. That was the start of a five-run third inning, sparking Minot to a 6-2 win against Fargo Post 400 on Saturday in the loser-out round of the North Dakota Class AA American Legion baseball tournament at Kraft Field.

“I just figured I had to run as hard as I could and try to keep the inning going,” Buchanan said. “I was surprised. It was a routine grounder. I thought they’d throw me out.”

Instead of a scoreless third inning, Minot sent 10 batters to the plate in scoring five runs. Logan Merck popped a two-run single to right field and Dylan Vigestad drew a bases-loaded walk to also drive in runs in the inning.

The outburst came after Minot stranded a runner on third base in the first inning and left runners on second and third to end the second inning.

“That (Buchanan hit) was huge,” Minot coach Pat Arntson said. “Some kids might not get out of the (batter’s) box that hard. But Dylan made the right choice.

“At that point, if we don’t score, maybe the kids start wondering if things aren’t going to happen for us. Maybe they start pressing.”

Instead, Vistas starting pitcher Blake Smith allowed just single runs in the first and fifth innings. He struck out six, allowing seven hits in his six innings of work.

“That’s been Blake,” Arntson said. “He’s an attack-mode type of pitcher. He attacks the strike zone.”

Chase Burke had three hits and Buchanan two to pace Minot’s offense.

Fargo left at least one runner on base in six of the seven innings. That included loading the bases with nobody out in the first and managing only one run and stranding a runner on third in the second inning.

“That (Buchanan hit) was crucial,” Fargo coach Hans Anderson said. “That’s the play that kept it going for them. And they kept putting the ball in play. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the key hits when we had opportunities.

“That first inning is the one I keep thinking about. If we get two or three runs, it changes the whole game.”

Jake Bryant and Colten Alme each had two hits for Fargo.