The Bemidji Mudcats used solid hurling and timely hitting Saturday to sweep an Arrowhead League double header from the Hibbing Miners.

Bemidji took the opener 4-1 behind Doug Peterson and used three hurlers in the extra inning 2-1 decision in the nightcap.

It lifted Neil Howe’s forces to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in league play.

Sunday’s scheduled single game with Nisswa was cancelled when the Lightning was unable to field a team.

They travel to Grand Rapids for a key Tuesday game and return to Nashwauk for another Wednesday. Friday, they open play at the Rosco Invitational, a three-day event.

Peterson, rebounding from the 10-2 loss to Midway last week, set down the Miners on five singles, fanning two and walking two.

He allowed runners in only three frames, needing only 84 pitches.

The visitors scored in the second on two singles and a two-out overthrow.

Bemidji had gone ahead in the first when Brad Johnson cleared the left field screen. Dan Bauer singled and took second on an overthrow. Brent Magnuson scored him with a single.

Bemidji added two in the second on singles by Brian Murphy and Simon Anderson, a sacrifice and Johnson’s two-run single.

They had runners aboard in all but one inning but were unable to score again.

Johnson and Murphy led a 10-hit attack with two. Johnson’s round tripper was the only extra base hit of the game.

Joe Tarr went the route to lose, fanning six and walking six.

Close nightcap

The nightcap was even closer as Jake Casareto shut out Bemidji through five innings, stranding eight.

Bemidji used three hurlers with Bauer going the first three, giving up a run in the third on a hit batter, wild pitch and Dave Grabowski’s single.

A double play prevented any further damage.

Murphy came on in the fourth to go the next three, allowing two hits while fanning five.

Left-hander Keenan Hum-phrey worked the final two, tantalizing the Miners with a variety of off-speed deliveries, and returned the winner as Bemidji scored in the eighth.

The Cats tied the score in the sixth when Jeff Schaper singled, was sacrificed to second and third and scored on a wild pitch.

Winning run

The Mudcats left seven on the bases in the first seven frames.

But in the eighth, Humphrey lofted a single over third base and Simon Anderson’s sacrifice bunt eluded the pitcher and third baseman for a hit.

Casareto then hit Murphy to load the bases and Jon Clark lofted a single over the drawn in outfield to right-center for the game walk-off win.

Bemidji again had 10 hits with Magnuson getting three and Anderson two.

Bemidji played without its top two hurlers, Tyler Norland and Paul Fenner, and its 3-4 hitters, Dan Nolan and Tony Klaers.

Hibbing also was shorthanded, going with just nine players.

Humphrey’s decision was his first.

A.J .Johnson will get Tuesday’s start at Grand Rapids.

First Game

Hibbing 010 000 0 - 1 5 2

Mudcats 220 000 x - 4 10 1

Tarr and Grabowski

Peterson (1-1) and Statton

Second Game

Hibbing 001 000 00 - 1 4 2

Mudcats 000 001 01 - 2 10 0

Casareto and Grabowski

Bauer, Murphy (4), Humphrey (1-0) (7) and Clark