If Fargo South learns to play in the early innings, the sky is the limit.

For the second straight day, the Bruins battled back from an early deficit to fight their way into the finals of the state Class A baseball tournament.

South, down two runs in after three innings, rallied past Century 3-2 in Friday's semifinals to earn at shot at Williston in tonight's state championship game. Game time is about 7 p.m. at Mandan Memorial Ballpark.

On Thursday the Bruins came back from a 5-0 deficit to trim Minot 8-5.

Kyle Kingsley, a 6-foot-2 junior right-hander, struggled early but then took control of the game. Kingsley, now 4-1, retired 16 of the final 17 Century batters he faced.

"The velocity was there. - At the beginning of the game I couldn't find the strike zone," Kingsley said. "Around the third inning I started to hit my spots. Once I found (a groove) I stuck with it."

South came up with the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning, taking advantage of a momentary wild streak by CHS right-hander Hunter Johnson.

Aaron Hall opened with a double down the right field line. Justin Fahy sacrificed Hall to third and beat out the bunt for an infield hit. Johnson then walked Brady Meyers on four pitches and passed Tony Gross on a 3-and-2 pitch, sending Hall home.

At that point, Johnson righted himself, fanning three straight batters with the bases loaded to escape further damage.

That was all the edge South needed, however. Kingsley wasn't about to budge.

"Those walks will hurt you. He put a couple of guys on," said Kent Schweigert, who shares CHS coaching duties with Mike Gustavsson. "But I'll tell you what, he gave up one run and battled back with the bases loaded and nobody out. You've got to give him credit for that."

Century drew first blood in the top of the second inning, Evan Kendall sending home two runs with a looping single to short left field.

Tate Leapaldt started the rally by coaxing a one-out walk. He reached second when South second baseman Brian Matthews threw wildly trying for the force play, a miscue that made both runs unearned.

A walk to Dave Gendreau loaded the bases, bringing up Kendall.

Leapaldt was a dead duck when Kendall whiffed on a suicide squeeze attempt. Three pitches later, Kendall delivered his base hit.

South fought back to tie with two runs in the fourth. Walks to Tony Gross and Max Rusch set up Kyle Kingsley's RBI double to left-center.

Spencer Wolf then singled to center to plate Rusch. Courtesy runner Matt Achter, running for Kingsley, attempted to score behind Rusch but was gunned down by center fielder Nate Schlosser's perfect one-hop throw.

Century 020 000 0 - 2 3 0

Fargo South 000 210 x - 3 5 1

Hunter Johnson and Taylor Isakson; Kyle Kingley and Matt Beneke. W - Kingsley, 4-1. L - Johnson, 5-3. HR - None.

Highlights: C - Evan Kendall 1-for-2, 2 RBIs; Johnson 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 7 BB, 9 SO. FS - Tony Gross 1-for-1, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB; Aaron Hall 1-for-2, double, 1 R; Kingsley 1-for-2, double, 1 RBI; 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO.

Records: Century 27-8, Fargo South 24-5.