The Aberdeen Smittys saved their best for last Thursday afternoon at Fossum Field.

Down to their last strike and trailing by two runs, the Smittys found a way to cap a furious rally with a 7-6 walk-off victory over Palace City Baseball Asssociation to salvage a split of an American Legion baseball doubleheader. The vistors took the first game 8-1.

Trailing 6-4 with two outs in the seventh, Michael Dutenhoffer hit a two-run double on an 0-2 pitch to tie the contest. Levi Hoffman then delivered a walk-off RBI single as the Smittys erased a five-run deficit with a six-run explosion in their final at-bat.

“Couldn’t be prouder of the guys never giving up and managed a six-run comeback with one out in the last inning,” said Aberdeen coach Josh Steinwandt. “That’s a very hard thing to do and we managed to get it done. Michael Dutenhoffer and Levi Hoffman getting those hits at the end was one of the best ways we can finish a game. Two seniors who work their butt off and it finally gets rewarded.”

The uprising started innocently enough with a lead-off out. Aberdeen then proceeded to load the bases, and a walk forced in the first run of the frame.

A wild pitch led to another Smittys run, and Karson Borge closed the gap to 6-4 with an RBI single. That set the stage for Dutenhoffer and Hoffman who produced their clutch hits.

Palace City had taken a five-run lead in the second game, scoring three runs in the second inning, and one apiece in the third and fourth.

The Smittys got on the board with a run in the bottom of the fourth, but Palace City responded with a run in the top of the seventh for a 6-1 advantage heading into the pivotal final half inning.

Bennett Eisenbeisz recorded all but one out for the Smittys on the mound.

“Benny Eisenbiesz went out there and didn’t have his best stuff, but he kept us in it,” Steinwandt said. “Only giving up four earned runs and managed to make it all the way into the seventh inning. That’s what good pitchers do. They keep you in the ball game every game even if they don’t have their best stuff.”

Dutenhoffer had a pair of hits to lead a balanced hitting attack for Aberdeen.

The Smittys had an eventful game on the mound in the first game, hitting six batters.

However, the game was tied 1-1 heading into the third inning after each team scored one run in the first.

Aberdeen got on the scoreboard when Borge drew a walk and came home on a triple by Joe Cogley.

The visitors scored a run in the third, and things started to unravel in the top of the fourth when Aberdeen allowed four runs. Palace City tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh for the final margin.

Porter Lozenski started the game before being relieved by Jackson Post in the fourth.

“I thought our pitching in game one kept us in the game even towards the end of the game,” Steinwandt said. “We just struggled to get the bats going in the game.”

Cogley topped Aberdeen with a pair of hits.

The Smittys will host Harrisburg Gold in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Monday at Fossum Field, before playing a game at Groton on Tuesday.

Palace City 101 400 2 – 8 13 0

Aberdeen Smittys 100 000 0 – 1 4 3

Kaiden Allen and Dawson Adams; Porter Lozenski, Jackson Post (4) and Mason Backous. 2B – Palace City, Carter McCormick, Ethan Hegg, Allen. 3B – Aberdeen Smittys, Joe Cogley.

Palace City 031 100 1 – 6 12 2

Aberdeen Smittys 000 100 6 – 7 8 2

Noah Bennett, Nolan Widstrom (7), Jaxson Hartman (7) and Dawson Adams; Benny Eisenbiesz, Donovan Kiesow (7) and Levi Hoffman. 2B – Palace City, Ethan Hegg, T. Christensen; Aberdeen Smittys, Michael Dutenhoffer 2.