FARGO - There was blood in the water and sharks were circling.

Bismarck Governors coach Mike Skytland liked the way his team responded.

"You can let them get you or you can decide to fight," Skytland said after Bismarck held off Dickinson 13-9 in a Saturday elimination game at the state Class A Legion baseball tournament.

Bismarck appeared to be in Fat City with an 8-2 lead after three innings, but Dickinson came charging back, cutting the deficit to 10-9 with a five-run seventh.

That's when Skytland turned to little-used reliever Tyler Johnson with the game - and season - on the line.

Johnson, who had pitched just eight innings all season, gave the Governors 21/3 innings of shutout relief to preserve the victory. He retired the final seven men he faced, struck out four and walked one.

Bismarck moves into today's championship round, meeting Minot. Minot, a 17-3 winner over Williston on Saturday, remains undefeated. Bismarck needs two victories over the Vistas today to garner a state title.

When Johnson relieved lefty Jeremy Campbell in the top of the seventh, the pressure was on. Dickinson had plated four runs and had two men in scoring position with two out.

Kyle Schroeder, the first hitter to face Johnson, grounded to shortstop. Zach Wentz booted the ball, allowing a fifth run to score. Johnson walked Dan Berg on five pitches to fill the bases but bared his fangs and sneaked a curveball past Andy Tomanek for a called third strike to quell the rally.

Johnson retired Dickinson in order the final two innings to earn his second save of the season. He said the three runs Bismarck added in the bottom of the seventh made his job easier.

"After we got the bigger lead I was able to go right at them," Johnson said.

The seventh inning was another matter.

"I was trying to throw strikes for the most part, but I had to hit spots because Dickinson is a good hitting team and if you throw something fat over the plate it's usually going to go over the fence," he said.

Bismarck opened a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Justin Connell drilled a two-out, two-run double. Torey Bohan followed with a run-scoring single and scored on Johnson's double to make it 4-0.

Cole Frenzel belted a two-run home run in the third to cut Bismarck's lead in half, but the Governors responded with a four spot in the bottom of the inning. Johnson's two-run homer was the big blow as Bismarck built an 8-2 cushion.

In the fourth, Dan Berg socked a two-run homer for Dickinson and Torey Bohan singled in a run for Bismarck, giving the Govs a 9-4 edge.

Bohan singled in another run in the sixth and Bismarck seemed to be safely in charge at 10-4.

Things went sour for Campbell in the seventh. The lefty retired two of the first three batters. Four singles and a walk ensued with Jamie Ollila and Ben Herauf knocking in runs and Travis Tooley cracking a two-run basehit. Tooley's hit brought in Johnson.

Although he hadn't been used much on the hill this year either in high school or Legion ball, Johnson said he wasn't exactly shocked when he was sent to the bullpen.

"In one of our first (state tourney) games I was warmed up, so that was in the back of my mind," he said. "I knew it would be me or one of two other guys. Even when I was out there I knew we had two other guys ready to go."

Johnson efficiently racked up seven outs for his second save of the season.

Johnson also helped the Governors at the plate, cracking a double and two-run home run for three RBIs. Bismarck reached Dickinson's three pitchers for nine extra bases. Justin Connell thumped three doubles and was 4-for-5. He scored three runs and knocked in three.

Kyle Schroeder and Jamie Ollila singled twice each for Dickinson.

Dickinson 002 200 500 - 9 10 2

Bismarck 404 101 30x - 13 18 1

Tyler Steffan, Michael Steve (3), Dan Berg (3) and Alex Koppinger; Jeremy Campbell, Tyler Johnson (7) and Torey Bohan. W - Campbell, 7-1. L - Steffan, 3-4. Save - Johnson. HR - Dickinson, Cole Frenzel, Berg; Bismarck, Tyler Johnson.

Highlights: D - Jamie Ollila 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI; Frenzel 1-for-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBIs; Kyle Schroeder 2-for-4, 1 R; Berg 1-for-1, HR, 2 R, 2 RBIs, 1 SB; 6 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO. B - Cody Erhardt 2-for-4, triple, 1 RBI; Wentz 2-for-4, double, 3 R, 1 RBI; Justin Connell 4-for-5, 3 doubles, 3 R, 3 RBIs, 1 SB; Bohan 3-for-4, 1 R, 4 RBIs; Nathan Schlosser 2-for-5, double, 2 R; Johnson 2-for-5, double, HR, 1 R, 3 RBIs; 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO.

Records: D 37-25, B 37-15.

Minot 17, Williston 3

Minot, facing a threadbare Williston pitching staff, exceeded 15 runs for the third time in four state tournament games. The Vistas bashed four home runs.

Shane Gathman led the hit parade, ripping a grand slam, driving in five runs and scoring three times. His slam came in the midst of Minot's game-deciding 14-run fourth inning.

Minot roughed up four Keybird pitchers for 11 hits in the fourth, including circuit shots by Gathman and Elgie, who connected for the 29th time this season.

"We hit the ball pretty well," Minot coach Todd Larson said in a classic understatement. "It's nice to have (Gathman) down in the nine-hole. He's got eight home runs this year."

Gathman said he jumped on the first pitch for his slam against Brian Qvale, a blast that put Minot up 14-0.

"I was looking for a first-pitch fastball and he put it in there and I got a good swing on it," Gathman said.

Bismarck and Minot are squaring off for the sixth time this season. Bismarck won three of four regular season matchups and fell 19-5 to the Vistas in Thursday's second round of the state tournament.

Williston 000 010 2 - 3 8 4

Minot 011 (14)01 x - 17 15 0

Jeff Skadeland, Zach Nelson (4), Brian Qvale (4), Alex Hanson (4) and Devin Kvernum; Clay Kallias and Dane Towery. W - Kallias, 4-1. L - Skadeland, 5-3. HR - Williston, Andy Leer; Minot, Jordan Martinson, Shane Gathman, Zac Elgie, Eric Steele.

Highlights: W - Leer 2-for-4, double, HR, 1 R, 3 RBis; McHale Maristuen 2-for-3; Hanson 2.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO. M - Ryne Hornecker 2-for-3, 2 R; Elgie 2-for-5, double, HR, 2 R, 3 RBIs; Teddy Anderson 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI; Ryan Bollinger 2-for-4, triple, 1 R, 1 RBI; Martinson 1-for-2, HR, 3 R, 1 RBI; Towery 2-for-4, 2 R; Gathman 2-for-3, HR, 3 R, 5 RBIs; Eric Steele 1-for-1, HR, 1 R, 1 RBI; Kallias 7 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO.

Records: Williston 35-24, Minot 47-13.