The Bemidji Mudcats returned to the win column Wednesday night, beating the new Blackduck Decoys 11-3 at the BSU diamond.

The newcomers were home team for the affair. Bemidji will host the return match in July.

Blackduck led 2-0 in the sixth when the Cats erupted for six runs and put the game to bed with five more in the eighth.

Three Mudcats hurlers spaced nine hits with A.J. Johnson, the middle hurler, getting his first win.

The Decoys broke the scoreless tie against starter Matt Stasch in the fifth, scoring twice on hits by Jesse Westbrook and Tom Brogan, a wild pitch, double steal and sacrifice by Nolan Coyle.

Westbrook had held Bemidji to four hits over the first five frames.

But in the sixth, a walk and Dan Bauer’s single opened the gates. Tony Klaers reached on an error and Kyle Figgins on another scoring the first run.

Another free pass and Brad Johnson’s sacrifice fly made it 3-2 and a double by Magnuson plus another error completed the six-run frame.

Only one of the six runs was earned.

The Cats put the game away with five more in the eighth on hits by Brent Magnuson, Greg Skerik, Bauer and Klaers around a hit batter and walk with Brett Mistic coming on to get the final out.

The final Blackduck run came in the last of the frame on singles by Jason Rogers and Chase Pink and Jeremy Popp’s double against Keenan Humphrey.

The Cats host the Hibbing Miners tomorrow at 1 in an Arrowhead League twin bill and entertain the Nisswa Lightning Sunday at 1 in a single game.

Mudcats 000 -006-050—-11—10—1

Blackduck 000-020-010—- 3— 9—5

Stasch, A.J. Johnson (1-0) (6), Humphrey (8) and Clark, Skerik (6), Statton (8)

Westbrook (0-1), Mistic (8) and Coyle