The Minot Magicians continued to build upon their dominant start to the season Thursday afternoon, taking the first game of a split doubleheader by a 13-8 final score against Bismarck Century.

With the win, Minot’s prolific offense had plated at least 13 runs in its first three games of the new campaign after it swept its season-opening twin-bill against Williston with identical 18-8 final scores.

The Magi jumped all over Century starter Ryan Keup, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. Chase Burke was the catalyst out of the leadoff spot, working a seven-pitch walk and later stealing second base to set the table for Hunter Ruzicka.

Ruzicka struck out, but the ball was dropped by catcher Jarod Sarston, and Burke flashed his speed again, advancing another 90 feet while his teammate was thrown out at first base.

One of the Magi’s three returners from the 2019 season, Dylan Buchanan, was next, and Minot’s shortstop swatted a triple to plate Burke and get the Magicians on the scoreboard first. Trent Greek later came through with a sacrifice fly to double Minot’s advantage before Century was able to take its hacks in the bottom of the frame.

On the mound, Magi starter Kaleb Bellew worked a clean inning, striking out two Century hitters en route to a perfect first frame. Minot’s hurler traded scoreless second and third innings with Century before both offenses found their groove in the fourth.

With one out, Morgan Nygaard laced the first pitch he saw for a double, and later came around on a two-bagger from Ruzicka to give Minot a 3-0 advantage. Century drew up its response in the bottom of the inning in the form of an error by Nygaard that allowed Noah Riedinger to touch home and get the Patriots on the board.

Following a Braedon McCarty sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning, Minot surrendered a seven-spot in the bottom half, giving Century a 8-4 lead entering the sixth inning.

The crooked number did not faze the Magicians, who came to the plate with every intention of getting every run back and then some. Minot rattled off a three-run sixth and six-run seventh, innings that featured two Greek RBI singles, a two-run double off Eli Nissen’s twig, three bases-loaded walks, and an RBI single from Nygaard. By the time the Patriots had finally recorded the final out of the seventh inning, they were staring at a 13-8 deficit.

Bellew took the mound in the final frame with the momentum on Minot’s side and immediately fanned Riedinger for the first out. The Magi pitcher allowed a one-out double to Carter Krueger but came back and struck out Parker Sagveen and induced a flyout off the bat of Seth Dietz to seal Minot’s third win in three games.

Highlights from the first contest included Nissen earning three hits in three at-bats and plating three runs, continuing his perfect season at the plate. The infielder went 4-for-4 in the season opener and earned three more hits in the second game of the Apr. 6 twin-bill.

Greek was also perfect at the dish, going 3-for-3 with three runs driven in, and Nygaard earned hits in all four of his at-bats to pile onto the flashy offensive display.

In the doubleheader’s second contest, the Magi again utilized a pair of crooked numbers en route to a more modest 5-4 victory. A three-run second frame was highlighted by a Calvin Baker RBI knock and a Charlie Slotsve run-scoring single.

The Magi plated two more in the top of the fifth inning, via two RBI doubles from Greek and Nissen, and Minot’s pitching staff shut down Century’s offense after allowing three in the first inning and another run in the second.

Minot will return to the field Apr. 13 for a road matchup against Dickinson, with first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m.