The Aberdeen Smittys dropped a pair of games to Renner Friday evening, falling 9-5 and 9-6 in an American Legion baseball doubleheader at Fossum Field.

The Smittys were forced to play from behind in both contests, giving up seven of their 18 runs allowed in the opening frame of each game.

“That first inning has really been hurting us the last few games,” said Smittys coach Brandon Kusler. “We can’t afford to keep shooting ourselves in the foot and digging ourselves a big hole early in ball games.”

Those early deficits were compounded by late-blooming offense for the Smittys, who were unable to score until the latter stages of each contest.

By then, it was a case of too little, too late, Kusler said.

Aberdeen scored all five of its runs in a two-inning stretch in game one, but left seven runners stranded on base.

Drew Salfrank, Ethan Kjenstad and Carter Dingman collected two hits apiece for the Smittys, including doubles from Salfrank and Kjenstad. Salfrank also drove in three runs in the game, two of which crossed on a bases-loaded, one-out single in the sixth inning.

It was more of the same in game two, as the Smittys gave up four runs in the top of the first. The Smittys responded with a pair of runs in three straight innings, creeping back within two runs after the sixth frame, but couldn’t close out the comeback.

Salfrank again led the way offensively with three hits. Casey Vining and Jaiden Smith each had a pair of hits and two runs driven in.

“I thought our offensive approach improved toward the end of game two, and I think that’s something to build off of as we move into next week,” Kusler said.

The Smittys will head to Rapid City for the Rapid City Post 320 tournament. Aberdeen will face the host squad on Thursday to begin its four-game stay West River.

Renner 320 211 0 – 9 8 3

Aberdeen Smittys 000 032 0 – 5 8 3

I. Scherbring, G. Hoffman (6), T Van Wassenhove (7) and Wassenhove, J. Jacobson; Casey Vining, Joshua Steinwandt (5) and Brian Holmstrom, Andrew Richardson. 2B – Renner, Q. Dunham; Aberdeen Smittys, Ethan Kjenstad, Drew Salfrank.

Renner 410 120 1 – 9 7 3

Aberdeen Smittys 000 222 0 – 6 9 1

M. Jarding, J. Jacobson (6), K. Konechne (7) and G. Hoffman; Brock Martin, Nick Clemens (5) and Andrew Richardson. 2B – Renner, K. Wenande; Aberdeen Smittys, Clemens. 3B – Renner, E. Struck; Aberdeen Smittys, Casey Vining.