As the temperatures climbed, the Williston, N.D., bats caught fire, at least for one inning, and it was enough to avoid a sweep by Rapid City Post 320 with a 12-9 win at Aafedt Stadium on Saturday.

The Stars took two from the host Keybirds on Friday night, but Williston sent Post 320 home on a losing note, because of a 10-run fifth inning.

"Our hitting is 95 percent mental and the last three or four games no one has been hot. Hopefully we'll get hot now and someone will heat up and lead us," said Keybirds coach Greg Beauchman. "I felt like we should have won at least two of three, but I also felt we did a nice job of battling today, we knew we were going to be short on pitching, but stayed in there and kept fighting."

Against Rapid City, Williston put up seven of its 11 hits in the big fifth inning.

Rapid City hurler Brad Winkelman had controlled the game pitching a shutout for four innings and faced just three batters over the minimum.

However, in the fifth, Jeff Skadeland, the No. 7 hitter for Williston, bounced a single between short and third to spark the run. Jordan Braun followed with a hit and a walk by Winkelman sent him to the bench as Chris Kirkeby hit the mound for the Stars.

But, the Williston bats continued to smoke and Quinn Devlin drove in a run, while Andy Leer was hit by a pitch to score another. Trevor Sorenson doubled in two more runs, knocking Kirkeby off the hill.

Kyle Starkey took the hill, but Williston wasn't ready to cool down yet as Devin Kvernum doubled and Devlin drove in his second run of the inning to cap a 10-run, seven-hit outburst to lead 10-5.

Rapid City got two runs back in the fifth with a Chris Lindemann double and an RBI by George Ceremuga.

In the sixth, Rapid City trimmed the lead to 10-9 as Levi Merchen drew a bases loaded walk, Kirkeby drove in a run and two more runs came in on fielder's choice plays.

Although Rapid City sat down the Keybirds in order in the sixth and seventh, the Stars stranded three runners, including getting caught in a rundown between third and home for the third out in the eighth inning.

Williston put up two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth as Shawn Egge and Devlin were each hit by a pitch. Andy Leer singled and Sorenson drilled a double down the right field line to score both runs.

Leer was the final Williston hurler on the five-man pitching carousel, because of sweltering conditions, tired arms and a nine-inning game.

He allowed one hit, but got a strikeout and pop up to himself to close out the game.

Doug Richter started the game on the hill for Williston, and despite some struggles, earned the win. Richter walked nine batters in five innings of work, but battled to give the Keybirds some innings.

Leading Rapid City's hitting was Starkey, who went 4-5 with a run scored, and Brandon Kiewel was 2-for-6 with two runs, Levi Merchen walked four times and scored three, Zach Cimburek was 1-for-2 with two walks and Ceremuga went 2-for-6.