WILLISTON – Chase Collings drove in the winning run with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning Monday as the Williston Keybirds edged the Jamestown Eagles 4-3 in the opening round of the North Dakota American Legion AA State Tournament at Williston State College’s Phil Rabon Field.

Ashton Nickoloff began the winning rally for Williston (18-29) with a leadoff single against the Eagles’ Hudson Rode (3-5), then advanced to second on a wild pitch.  After Max Heen popped out, Rode was replaced by Zach Gaiser, who then allowed the game-ending hit to Collings.

Williston took the lead in the first inning on a two-out RBI single by Connor Ekblad.

Jamestown (13-34) had a great chance to tie or lead in the third inning when Mason Joseph hit a leadoff single and Cody Busch reached on an error.  A wild pitch advanced both runners to second and third, but Justin Irgens retired three straight hitters and held the Eagles from scoring.

In the fourth, Jamestown had two two-out singles, but Ethan Oettle was thrown out trying to steal third.  In the fifth, Thomas Newman was thrown out trying to steal second for the third out.

Williston improved their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth when Heen delivered a two-out RBI single.

Jamestown stormed into the lead in the top of the sixth.  Kale Verke walked and Bennett Goehner singled before Jaxon Kolpin gave the Eagles their first run with a single.  Nolan Maulding walked to force Irgens off the mound.  Jaxon Jeanotte (3-2) induced a fly out by Oettle before Braxton Perkins’ two-run single vaulted Jamestown into a 3-2 lead.

Williston evened the game in the bottom of the sixth when Collin McCuistion drove in a run with an automatic double to deep right that fell just a few feet short of a home run.

The Eagles will play Wednesday afternoon against Minot in an elimination game.  Coverage will begin at 12:45 PM on Wednesday on Jamestown 107.1.