The runs were plenty between Sioux Falls Roosevelt and Aberdeen Central in a softball game on Tuesday afternoon.

The Rough Riders used an eight-run seventh inning to hold off the Golden Eagles for a 21-17 victory at Koehler Hall of Fame Field.

The final inning was the difference as both teams fought tooth and nail throughout the first six innings. Central coach Cassidy Schaar noted that the team failed to continue its momentum down the stretch.

“I think we kind of just took our foot off the gas a little bit,” Schaar said. “I think we got a little nervous and we got a little scared, and we’ve just got to remember to stay focused and do the little things right.”

Central junior infielder Ayrlie Waldo said the team was determined to pick up the first win of the season, but came up just short down the stretch.

“We were prepared to completely get our first win of the season,” Waldo said. “We had it for a long time and just towards the end we couldn’t figure out (how) to get three outs, and that’s just how it went.”

The Golden Eagles led 15-13 after six innings before Roosevelt went on a scoring barrage in the top of the seventh. Central attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring two late runs, but the Rough Riders closed out the inning and prevented a Golden Eagle comeback.

Roosevelt began the game scoring the first four runs, while Central answered with three runs of its own in the first inning. Roosevelt added another four runs in the second inning before the Golden Eagles tallied five runs in the bottom of the second, tying the score at eight. Central also scored five runs in the sixth inning, which gave them the 15-13 advantage heading into the final inning.

Schaar was pleased with her team’s effort in the second and sixth innings.

“We just talked about being patient in the batter’s box (and) stringing together little hits,” Schaar said. “We don’t need home runs, we don’t need big hits, we just need base runners, and kind of chipping away and stringing those together is what makes a difference, and that’s really where we started to see progress.”

Schaar said she saw improvement throughout the week, which led to the improved performance on the field.

“I definitely thought going into it I was like ‘this is going to be a very good matchup,’” Schaar said. “Just working on those little things throughout the week, our girls showed night and day difference. They just looked like they’ve been here before and that they were ready to go.”

While the first win eluded the Golden Eagles, Schaar knows the team is making the necessary progress towards the first win in program history.

“I’ve never lost my faith in them, and I know that win is in our future,” Schaar said. “We’ve just gotta make those little things happen and fine tune some of those little errors.”

Roosevelt tallied nine hits, while Central finished with four hits.

Waldo, who had a double and triple and led the team with four RBI, said the team’s practices this week helped prepare them for the game.

“Well, I think our batting practice yesterday helped a lot,” Waldo said. “We were all very confident when we were walking up to the base, and I think that’ll help us in the long run in these next games on Thursday. Moving the ball around in the infield also helped. Just getting extra reps always makes us better.”

Central travels to Sioux Falls on Thursday to play Sioux Falls Jefferson at 1:30 p.m. and Sioux Falls Washington at 6 p.m., and Schaar says there are many improvements to be made.

“More so just more heads up base running. We had a couple base running errors today, and that kind of killed the momentum a little bit,” Schaar said. “Also, taking away base hits. Extra base hits. Balls dropping in the outfield, we want to dive and get those, or at least get them in and keep them from getting that extra base. I think that’s gonna make a big difference in our ball game.”

Sioux Falls Roosevelt 4 4 2 1 2 0 8 – 21 9

Aberdeen Central 3 5 1 1 0 5 2 – 17 4

WP: Aliyah Chagolla. LP: Kaylee Kiesow. 2B – Sioux Falls Roosevelt, Rylinne DeVries, Kaylie Drew; Aberdeen Central, Ayrlie Waldo, Alivia Roettele. 3B – Sioux Falls Roosevelt, Aliya Chagolla; Aberdeen Central, Waldo.