BILLINGS - Forest Suero doubled home two runs to open the fourth inning Thursday, helping Helena beat Kalispell 8-2 at Montana's Legion Baseball State AA tournament.
The Senators added four more runs in the sixth inning with Tyler Tenney, Matt Krieger and Hunter Lindgren each delivering RBIs. Helena will play top-seeded Bozeman in Friday's undefeated semifinal.
Lindgren earned the win, tossing five innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out four. He also homered in the sixth inning. Ethan Keintz threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen and recorded the last six outs to earn the save for Helena.
Hoffman took the loss for Kalispell throwing six innings, allowing eight runs on 10 hits and striking out two.
PHOTOS: HELENA, BOZEMAN ADVANCE IN STATE AA WINNER'S BRACKET
Earlier in the game, a vicious storm halted play, then forced teams to Pirtz Field across town for completion of the contest. The restart was just before 7:30 p.m. High winds and heavy rain combined to knock down power lines and forced several outages around Billings. The storm hit Dehler Park around 5:15 p.m.
Bozeman (21-4) handled the Billings Royals 11-0 in five innings to cap the night. Hunter Williams and Parker McMan combined on a two-hit shutout.
Williams lasted 3 2/3 innings allowing two hits and no runs with seven strikeouts. McMan threw 1 and one-third in relief.
Logan Pailthorpe, Ben Hubley, McMan and Preston Fliehman delivered multiple hits for Bozeman, with Pailthorpe leading the way in a 3-for-3 performance.
Bozeman and Helena play the 7 p.m. game Friday night. The Royals face Great Falls in a 1 p.m. loser-out game, followed by the Billings Scarlets and Kalispell in a 4 p.m. elimination game.
Earlier Thursday, second-inning singles by Hunter Huck, Derick Spring and Nate Fowler led Great Falls past Missoula 4-1 in an elimination game.
Spring worked 5 2/3 innings for the Chargers allowing one run on two hits with four strikeouts.
Updated State AA scores and pairings can be seen here.
