OMAHA, Neb. – The Aberdeen Smittys dropped a pair of American Legion baseball games at the Battle of Omaha tournament on Friday. Aberdeen fell 2-1 to Dillworth, Minn. in its first game, and then lost to the Helena Senators 15-3 in the other contest.

The Smittys were unable to get a timely hit in their one-run setback.

Aberdeen started the game with three straight singles in the top of the first inning from Jehiel Aviles, Karson Borge, and Jackson Post. Joe Cogley plated one run with a sacrifice fly, but the Smittys stranded two runners in the frame.

Dillworth scored on a lead-off home run and then added a run in the bottom of the fifth on Aberdeen’s lone error of the game.

The Smittys threated in their last two at-bats, loading the bases in the top of the sixth, and putting two runners on in the seventh, but were unable to get the equalizing run.

Post had three hits, and Aviles two to lead the Aberdeen offense. Porter Lozenski went the distance on the mound for the Smittys, allowing just four hits and one earned run, while striking out four.

“Another fabulous pitching performance from Porter. He was doing his thing out there,” said Aberdeen coach Josh Steinwandt. “His slider and fastball was exactly what we needed and he did a great job.”

However, the Smittys could not muster enough run support in the contest.

“Offensively we struggled a bit. We kind of faced a junk baller and we just couldn’t find the holes in the defense,” Steinwandt said. “We’ve got to figure out ways to start winning these games. We’re right there in a lot of these games, and I think it will eventually come around.”

Aberdeen scored three runs on three hits, but committed five errors while Helena racked up 15 hits in the second game.

“They are a pretty good team,” Steinwandt said. “Branson (Peterson) was pitching and he did exactly what he needed to. He threw his fastball and curveball for strikes, but they hit everything we pitched to them. Sometimes days like that happen. They were the better team and they did a great job hitting.”

The Smittys scored single runs in the second, third, and fourth frames.

Bennett Eisenbeisz doubled in the second inning, moved up to third and scored on a passed ball. Wheeler Malsam reached on an error and eventually scored on a passed ball in the third inning. Cogley and Drake Soderlund singled in the fourth, and following a walk to load the bases, Malsam drove in a run with a walk. However, the Smittys left the bases loaded to end the inning.

Aberdeen, which is 1-3 in the tourney so far, will be back in action when it faces Bellevue East at 9 this morning.

“Going for win number two (Saturday),” Steinwandt said, “so we can use the momentum into the second half of the state schedule.”

Aberdeen Smittys 100 000 0 – 1 7 1

DFG 100 010 x – 2 4 0

Porter Lozenski and Mason Backous; Cayson Bergee and W. Hoover. HR – DRG, Alex Anderson.

Aberdeen Smittys 011 1 – 3 3 5

Helena Senators 229 2 – 15 15 2

Branson Peterson, Donovan Kiesow (3) and Levi Hoffman; Tyler Kaiser and Beau Pearce. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Bennett Eisenbeisz; Helena Senators Matt Feller 2.