HAMBURG — Bazil Zuehlke and Cody Rutledge literally packed a lethal 1-2 offensive punch for the Bemidji Blue Ox during second-round Minnesota Class ‘C’ state amateur baseball tournament action on Sunday in Hamburg.

Zuehlke went 2-for-3 with a double and a game-best three RBIs, while Cody Rutledge went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and scored three runs to power Bemidji to a 7-2 triumph over the Blue Earth Pirates.

Blue Earth, which was making its incredible 15th consecutive state appearance, ended its summer with a 20-10 record.

The Bemidji Blue Ox (21-7), the Region 10 champions, advance to face the winner of Howard Lake and the Sartell Muskies at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, in third-round state action in Green Isle.

Zuehlke staked the Blue Ox to an early 2-0 lead by lining a two-run single off the left-field wall to plate Cody Benson and Cody Rutledge, who had each singled during the bottom of the first inning.

Collin Rutledge later smacked a two-run single during the third to double Bemidji’s lead to 4-0.

The Pirates manufactured a solo run in the top of the fifth. Aaron Wendt singled, Trent Sonnicksen drew a one-out walk and T.J. Schmidtke, who collected a third-inning hit, walked to load the bases. Wendt then crossed the plate on John Franta’s sacrifice fly.

Cody Rutledge answered by cranking a solo HR off of Blue Earth starter Lee Hodges during the home half of the fifth.

Bobby Olson, who was hit by a pitch, scored the Pirates’ lone run in the sixth via Wendt’s RBI groundout.

Zuehlke drilled an RBI double to highlight Bemidji’s two-run seventh.

Blue Ox starter Ryan Hirt allowed one run on two hits, struck out five and walked five in five frames to earn the victory.

Hodges gave up seven runs on 11 hits, fanned three and walked two in seven innings to take the loss for the Pirates.

Pirates 000 011 000 — 2 2 3

Blue Ox 202 010 20x — 7 11 1