GROTON – The Aberdeen Smittys won a pair of American Legion baseball games in different fashion Monday night in Groton.

The Smittys scored in every inning of a 12-1 first-game triumph. Aberdeen then edged the hosts 7-5 in the nightcap.

The Smittys exploded for 14 hits and took advantage of eight walks to fuel their first-game victory.

Casey Vining led the offensive barrage with three hits, including a double and triple. Drew Salfrank, Nick Clemens, Josh Steinwandt and Andrew Richardson each had a pair of hits. Richardson knocked in four runs, while Vining and Steinwandt each drove in two.

“Offensively, lots of good things happened all day,” said Smittys coach Brandon Kusler. “The whole team seems to be seeing the ball well.”

Meanwhile Brock Martin pitched three hitless innings and struck out five to start the contest.

“Martin gave us a great start in game one,” Kusler said. “We’ve always got a good chance to win when he’s got the ball. We didn’t want to extend him too far, because we’ll need him later in the week.”

The second game was much tighter the Smittys clung to a 5-4 lead heading into the seventh before scoring a pair of insurance runs, when Brian Holmstrom tripled and scored on an error. He then closed out the win with a save in the bottom half of the inning.

Vining left with a 5-2 lead after five innings. He allowed just one earned run.

“Vining gave us a great start. Same thing with him, we needed to save him for later in the week,” Kusler said.

Vining, Holmstrom and Ethan Kjenstad each had two hits. Holmstrom, who doubled and tripled, knocked in two.

“It took us a little bit to get our bats going, but eventually we were able to get a little lead,” Kusler said, “and then Clemens and Holmstrom gave us some quality innings out of the bullpen to seal the deal.”

Bradin Althoff had two hits to lead Groton. Tate Larson tripled for the home team.

The Smittys host Jamestown, N.D. in one nine-inning game starting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Fossum Field.

Aberdeen Smittys 113 43 – 12 14 2

Groton 000 10 – 1 1 2

Brock Martin, Jaiden Smith (4), Will Heinert (5) and Andrew Richardson; Bradin Althoff, Colby Dunker (4) and Cade Larson. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Josh Steinwandt, Casey Vining, Heinert. 3B – Aberdeen Smittys, Vining.

Aberdeen Smittys 000 320 2 – 7 9 1

Groton 000 202 1 – 5 5 5

Casey Vining, Nick Clemens (5), Brian Holmstrom (6) and Andrew Woehl; Ryan Groeblinghoff, Cole Simon (7) and Dillon Abeln. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Holmstrom. 3B – Aberdeen Smittys, Casey Vining, Holmstrom; Groton, Tate Larson.