It was going to hard to predict what might happen when the United South Central American Legion team met Minnesota Lake in the first round of the playoffs Friday in St. James just because the two previous meetings had been so different.

During the high school season USC lost 3-2 to the Minnesota Lake players and earlier this summer Minnesota Lake blew USC out 7-0 with its ace Mike Osmunbson on the mound throwing a two-hitter.

Osmunbson was on the mound again but this time it was USC who had a starter deliver a two-hitter in a 3-2 win.

Nick Fure went six innings and allowed just two runs on two hits while striking out six and walking just three as USC (12-6) advanced to the semifinals where it will meet Lake Crystal.

“We didn’t make mistakes tonight and we got hits when we needed them,” said USC head coach Pat Frank. “Three runs was enough because Nick pitched a great ballgame.”

Minnesota Lake took a 1-0 lead after the first but USC tied it in the third with a Kevin George base hit to score Eric Lackey.

USC took the lead for good in the fifth after Osmunbson started the inning with back-to-back walks. William Huper came up with a base hit to score Fure to give USC a 2-1 lead and Dustin Dylla delivered the eventual game-winner with a single to score George.

Fure worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second inning to keep it a 1-0 game. Fure walked the first two batters in the inning and the third reached on an error to load the bases, but Fure responded by striking out the side to get out of the inning.

USC 3, Minnesota Lake 2

Minnesota Lake 100 001 0 — 2 2 2

USC 001 020 x — 3 6 1

WP — Nick Fure 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

LP — Mike Osmunbson 4 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K