On the eve of hosting duties for this weekend’s Souris River Slugfest at Corbett Field, the Minot Metros made sure to take care of business in Dickinson first.

Mission accomplished.

The Metros expanded their win streak to a season-high six games with a doubleheader sweep of Dickinson on Thursday, June 25, needing a late comeback in the opener before piling on the runs in the finale. Minot used a seven-run sixth in Game 1 and the pitching staff combined for a one-hitter in an 8-2 victory. The Metros didn’t need a late-game rally in Game 2, compiling 19 runs on 17 hits for a 19-7 win to complete the sweep.

The Metros (13-5 overall, 4-0 state standings) had six of their 12 hits over the first five innings in the opener, but had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard, as they hit into two double plays during that stretch and left five runners on base.

Minot starting pitcher Brody Johnson kept the Metros afloat in the meantime, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning. David Barkley broke up Johnson’s no-hit bid with one out in the fifth, as the Volunteers were able to put up the first runs of the series. A pair of walks loaded the bases and an error at third allowed Keagan Knight to come into score. With the bases still loaded, Azariah Ho scored on a wild pitch to give Dickinson a 2-0 lead.

It proved to be short-lived, as the Metros struck for seven runs in the sixth on four hits, three walks and a hit batter. Grady Weppler opened the big inning with an RBI single to center, plating Brady Vigested. The Metros tied the game on a fielder’s choice before Owen Meyer put Minot in front with an RBI single to right. Ty Iverson took a pitch to the body and Vigested drew a walk – both with the bases loaded – and Garrett Nikitenko recorded a sac fly to give the Metros a 7-2 lead.

Johnson picked up the win, going five innings. He allowed two runs on one hit, striking out 11 and walking seven. Owen Sundahl pitched two perfect innings in relief, striking out three.

Meyer went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. Liam Hieb and Sundahl each collected a pair of hits.

The Metros didn’t wait around to put runs up in the finale, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the opening half-inning of play. Minot loaded the bases right away before Sundahl scored on a wild pitch and Iverson came around to score on an RBI groundout from Weppler. The Metros added two more runs later in the frame.

The Volunteers (5-9, 0-4) responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, but the Metros went on to plate 15 of the game’s final 19 runs. They scored three in the third, two in the fourth, four in the sixth and six in the seventh.

Weppler and Ben Hedberg delivered RBI singles in the third. Weppler drove in two more in the fourth on a double to right field and Johnson did the same in the sixth with a two-run double to left. Cole Deaver followed with a single to left to score Johnson for a 13-3 lead.

Dickinson avoided the mercy rule by scoring four in the sixth. An RBI groundout off the bat of Breckin Lewis ensured the game would go its full seven innings.

With three more outs to work with, the Metros came away with six more hits and six more runs for their second largest run output of the season. Deaver recorded Minot’s fourth double of the contest, plating Hieb. Nikitenko and Meyer each had RBI singles in the inning.

Weppler earned the win on the mound for the Metros. Weppler allowed three runs on three hits over five innings, striking out nine and walking five. He also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a game-high four RBIs.

Meyer. Johnson, Carter Bush and Deaver also finished with two hits each. Johnson drove in three runs, while Deaver and Nikitenko each had two RBIs.

Mason Tomarchy went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Volunteers. Uriah Sandoval had two RBIs.

The Metros return to Minot to host the Souris River Slugfest, which begins at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 26, at Corbett Field. Six teams including the Metros make up the tournament field. The other five are the Minot 26ers, Velva, Cando, Burlington and Crosby. Each team will play three games over the first two days, with the top two teams advancing to the championship game on Sunday, June 28, at 10 a.m.