File photo. Minot Metro designated hitter Owen Sundahl leads off second base at Jack Hoeven Park during a home game versus Beulah. Nathan Beitler/MDN

The Minot Metros’ offense was firing on all cylinders in their first game of the Cross-River Classic on Friday, June 12, scoring a season-high 22 runs in a 22-0 victory over the Bismarck Barons in four innings at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark.

Minot’s top five batters in the lineup combined for 11 hits, two triples, a double, 12 RBIs and 13 runs scored. Garrett Nikitenko led the offense with a 3-for-3 performance, logging a game-high six RBIs and scoring twice. Seven Metros recorded a hit and an RBI and 10 scored a run.

The Metros (7-3) eclipsed their previous season-high run output of 15 against Beulah. Friday against the Barons was the fourth time this season the Metros have scored at least 10 runs.

Minot scored at least three runs in all four innings, including 11 in the third. The Metros finished with 14 hits, drew five walks and were hit by seven pitches.

Leading 7-0 entering the third inning, the Metros struck for 11 in the frame on six hits, two walks, two hit batters and three Bismarck errors. The Metros brought 16 batters to the plate.

The first seven Minot batters reached base safely. Owen Sundahl, Brady Vigested and Nikitenko all had run-scoring hits in the inning. Sundahl had a pair of RBI singles and Nikitenko drove in a run with a single in his first at-bat of the inning and cleared the bases with a three-run double in his final at-bat. Carter Bush and Brody Johnson both plated runs via sacrifices.

Sundahl joined Nikitenko with three hits for the game, recording a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored. Bush drove in three runs with a pair of hits. Bush was one of five Metros with multiple hits.

Cole Deaver and Owen Meyer split time on the mound, allowing two hits and striking out eight. Deaver struck out the side in the second inning and Meyer did the same in the fourth.

Minot plays West Fargo on Saturday, June 13, at 11:30 a.m. in its next game of the tournament.