MINOT - Minot leadoff hitter Creighton Bachmeier swallowed the proverbial lump in his throat and dug his feet into the batter's box.

Bachmeier had reason to be concerned. The No. 1-seeded Bismarck Governors brought in pitcher Zach Wentz in the bottom of the ninth inning with two out.

With Vistas nemesis Wentz on the hill, it seemed like a sure victory for the Governors in a winners' bracket game of the Class A state Legion tournament on Thursday night. The Governors led by one run and just needed one more out.

All went well for Wentz early as he got ahead of Bachmeier 0-2 in the count. Two balls and two foul tips later, Bachmeier crushed a 2-2 pitch to the gap of right-center field.

Bachmeier's hit plated Ben Kramer, who walked off Bismarck reliever Hunter Johnson. A Governors throwing error sent Bachmeier home, where he was surrounded by a mob of his teammates. Bachmeier helped the No. 4 Vistas secure a 10-9 victory at Corbett Field.

The Vistas (36-19) advanced and play Dickinson today. The Governors match up with Fargo in the losers' bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

"When I saw Wentz I thought 'Oh God,'" said Bachmeier, who was 3-for-5. "Myself, especially, for the last two years he's had my number. I'm 0-for-20 against Wentz, lifetime. I was thinking 'I hope he gives me something I can handle.' I just wanted to get on base and extend the inning."

Bachmeier didn't handle Wentz's offering right away, getting two strikes called.

"(Assistant coach) Phil Shirek said you can't let one pitch affect your at-bat," Bachmeier said. "He threw me some off-speed stuff that I managed to fight off. Then came the fast ball."

Vistas head coach Todd Larson said Bachmeier has been due for a dramatic game-winning hit. He has always dreamed about getting a walk-off home run.

"You see (teammates) Zac Elgie and Ryan Bollinger getting two a year," Bachmeier said. "This is my chance. It was kind of like a walk-off home run."

Bismarck coach Mike Skytland credited Bachmeier for battling at the plate.

"He had two strikes on him, give him credit," Skytland said. "He came up with a big hit. He battled back and had a good at-bat. (Wentz) said he wanted to finish one batter."

The game was a slugfest. Both teams collected 16 hits each. Bachmeier, Elgie and Bollinger all had three hits each for Minot. Elgie sent a 0-1 pitch over the left-field wall in the seventh inning.

Cody Erhardt, Wentz, Taylor Isakson, Hunter Johnson, Jacob Hruby, Jon Herold and Alex Deyle all collected two hits each for the Governors. Isakson hit his third homer of the season " and his second of the tournament " with a two-run shot to left-center in the third inning.

The Governors held a 7-4 lead when they plated five runners in the top of the fifth. Bismarck collected seven of its hits in the frame.

Bismarck 002 005 020 " 9 16 2

Minot 200 020 222 " 10 16 2

Jon Hausauer, Hunter Johnson (7), Zach Wentz (9) and Taylor Isakson; Zac Elgie, Josh Oothoudt (6) and Dane Towery, Ben Kramer (8). W-Oothoudt; L-Wentz. HR-Bismarck, Isakson; Minot, Elgie.

Highlights: B " Cody Erhardt 2-for-5, RBI; Wentz 2-for-3, 2 RBIs; Isakson 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBIs; Johnson 2-for-5, double, RBI; Jacob Hruby 2-for-5, double; Jon Herod 2-for-5; Alex Deyle 2-for-5. M- Creighton Bachmeier 3-for-5, triple, RBI; Elgie 3-for-5, HR, double, RBI; Ryan Bollinger 3-for-4, RBI.

Records: Bismarck 32-14; Minot 36-19.