Governors lay down the law

As former New York Yankee legend Yogi Berra once said, ‘It ain’t over until it’s over.’

The Bismarck Governors proved that statement to be true on Wednesday evening at Aafedt Stadium.

Trailing by as many as seven runs late in the first of two games, Bismarck rallied for eight runs in the seventh inning to knock off Williston 16-12 in American League baseball action.

Bismarck also held off the Keybirds for a 6-5 win in the nightcap.

In the opener, Williston had built a 10-3 lead after three innings and took that seven-run lead into the fifth.

The Keybirds had scored five runs in the first and third innings to put themselves in position for a win.

The Governors scored five runs in the fifth to get back to within 10-8. Bismarck capped off the improbable comeback with the eight-run seventh. Seven of the runs were earned and Bismarck had only five hits in the inning.

Shawn Egge, Doug Richter and Jeff Skadeland all had RBI singles in the first for Williston. Derrick Linghor helped his own cause at the plate with a two-run single, also in the first.

In the third, Linghor hit a two-run home run to right field that hit off the scoreboard, giving Williston a 7-3 lead. Alex Hanson came through a two-run double, and Egge followed with a RBI single to give the Keybirds what seemed to be an insurmountable lead.

Egge also added an RBI single in the seventh, while C.J. Vinger hit a home run.

Linghor pitched the first 4 1/3 innings, giving up eight runs on five hits, walking six. Vinger suffered the loss for Williston in relief.

In the nightcap, Bismarck’s Tyler Peterson hit a solo home run in the sixth en route to giving the Governors the 6-5 win.

Trailing by two in the seventh, Richter doubled to lead off the inning and came around to score on a wild pitch. Skadeland, who finished with three singles, reached base as the game-tying run.

However, Linghor and Jon Westphal both struck out to end the game.

Williston (15-12, 4-4) will return to action this evening in a doubleheader against Fargo, beginning at 5 p.m.

Game 1

Bismarck 030 050 8— 16 11 1

Williston 505 000 2 — 12 12 2

WP - Peterson, LP - Vinger. HR - Williston 2 (Vinger, Linghor)

Game 2

Bismarck 122 001 0 — 6 9 3

Williston 003 010 1 — 5 11 2