By Herald staff (Contact) | Austin Daily Herald

One more win and the Blue Devils will be playing in the national tournament.

The Riverland baseball team advanced to the Regional finals after beating Northland 6-4 and knocking off Fergus Falls 10-2 Friday in Willmar.

RCC (36-8 overall) took over the first game when Zach Vliestra blasted a three-run homer in the sixth inning to make it 5-2.

“That blast made it easier and everyone relaxed after Zach hit,” RCC head coach Scott Koenigs said.

On the mound, Brandon Huhn lasted just one inning due to a sore arm, but Brian Voigt came in and pitched six solid innings to pick up the win.

“I told Brian he might come in, but not that early,” Koenigs said. “He’s pitched in some big games at Southland and he’s a confident guy who doesn’t choke.”

In the second game, Riverland came out swinging as eight of their nine batters came through with a hit.

“We swung the bat well and it’s a whole lot easier on my heart when we’re scoring,” Koenigs said.

RCC will play the winner of Northland and Fergus Falls Saturday at 2:30 p.m. with a trip to the Junior College World Series on the line. If RCC loses that game there will be a rematch between the two teams on Sunday to see who makes the trip to Tyler, Texas.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E

North 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 4 11 2

RCC 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 X 6 8 2

RCC pitching: Brandon Huhn, 1 IP, 2 BB, 0 R, 1 K; Brian Voigt (W), 6 IP, 9 H, 2 BB, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 K; Zach Vliestra (S), 2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 4 K

RCC hitting: Vlliestra, 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 R; Shawn Pape, 1-for-3, BB; Kyle Starkey, 1-for-4, double, RBI, SB; Andy Behnke, 1-for-3, R, BB; Shane Lange, 0-for-3, R, BB; Voigt, 1-for-2, R, SB, 2 BBs; Chris Lindemann, 2-for-3, R, double, RBI, BB

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E

FF 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 7 1

RCC 0 2 0 3 2 0 1 2 10 15 3

RCC pitching: Brady Banse (W), 8 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 K, 2 HBP

RCC hitting: Vliestra. 1-for-4, BB; Pape, 3-for-5, 2 RBIs, R; Starkey, 2-for-3, 2 BB, R; Huhn, 2-for-5, double, R; Lange, 1-for-2, 3 R, BB; Voigt, 2-for-4, RBI, R; Huhn, 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 R; Lindemann, 2-for-2, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs