Grand Forks Central coach Mike McNamara and Grand Forks Red River coach Mark Varriano both came into Saturday's game looking for consistency heading into the East Region baseball tournament.
Thanks to starter Brady Johnson and a handful of Central relievers, the Knights took a step in the right direction as they defeated Red River 9-3 at Kraft Field.
Central improved to 9-13, while Red River dropped to 8-10.
"This was a big win for our team," McNamara said. "We've struggled in these games in the past. But our kids threw strikes and we got some big hits."
Red River grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first when Taylor Steen singled home Keith Howe.
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But Central answered in the bottom of the inning. Casey Purpur and Alec Lazur walked to start the inning. Johnson then loaded the bases after reaching on an error. Mick Koski brought Purpur and Lazur home with a single and Johnson scored on a Seth Zygarlicke single.
But the big hit came in the bottom of the second when Jared Glimsdahl, Lazur and David Nelson all reached and scored on Johnson's double to centerfield. That put Central up 7-1.
"I told the guys if they go out and compete we can be right there with the top teams in the East Region," McNamara said.
The Roughriders put themselves in position to make a rally when Steen and Matt Lee scored on an error in the fifth to cut the deficit to 7-3. But Central shut the door when Gage Salquist knocked in Derek Shipper and later scored on a passed ball.
Red River didn't leave Kraft Field without its share of scoring chances. The Roughriders stranded 11 base runners.
"Our situational hitting was bad," Varriano said. "We've been searching for consistency and we're running out of time.
"When the East Region starts, it's a new season. We've got to find a way to go in there and win a few games."
