The Minot Metros’ undefeated run to open the season came to an end on Friday, June 5, at the hands of Renville County.

The Muskrats fended off a late rally by the Metros in their second game against a Legion program from the Magic City in as many days, coming away with a 6-4 victory in a non-conference contest. Renville County survived a 40-run slugfest with the Minot 26ers on Thursday, June 4, in a 22-18 victory against the junior Legion club.

Six runs was enough for the Muskrats (2-0) against the Metros, scoring all of them between the third and fourth innings to take a 6-1 lead. Minot took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI double off the bat of Carter Bush. Owen Sundahl scored on the play, but Ben Hedberg was thrown out at the plate. The Metros had two runners thrown out at home in the inning, as Bush was tagged out at the plate during Grady Weppler’s at-bat.

Hunter Tolstad tied the game in the third with a double to left field, allowing Brody Dotson to score all the way from first. Tolstad gave the Muskrats the lead later in the inning, scoring on a passed ball.

Renville County struck for four more in the fourth on just a pair of hits. The Metros committed both of their errors in the frame, and both proved costly. Lane Haman reached base safely to lead off the inning via error and Gideon Harper did the same two batters later to put runners on first and second with one out. The two moved to second and third and a passed ball and both came around to score on a two-run double by Aidyn Derr.

Tolstad followed with an RBI single to center and eventually scored on a passed ball to give the Muskrats a 6-1 lead after four.

The Metros (4-1) got a run back in the fifth when Hedberg doubled home Owen Meyer. Much like Renville County in the fourth, Minot took advantage of two errors by the Muskrats in the sixth to get within 6-4. Back-to-back miscues in the field put Henry Woodbeck and Garrett Nikitenko on first and second with one out. Brady Vigested scored Woodbeck with an RBI single to center and Hedberg brought in Nikitenko with a two-out RBI single to shortstop.

The Metros went down in order in the seventh.

Hedberg led the Minot offense with a 3-for-4 night at the plate, doubling and driving in a pair of runs.

Tolstad finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Ty Iverson got the start for the Metros and struck out seven batters in 2 2/3 innings. The Metros pitching staff recorded 11 strikeouts in six innings.

Derr picked up the win for the Muskrats. He went all seven innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, striking out five and walking two.

The Metros begin conference play on the road against the Mandan A’s on Monday, June 8, in a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. The Muskrats host the Crosby Cubs on Monday, June 8, at 5:30 p.m.