WATERTOWN – The Aberdeen Smittys got off to a slow start, but provided a big finish on Tuesday night.

Aberdeen was blanked by Watertown 3-0 in the first game, before scoring a run in the top of the seventh inning to secure a 9-8 win in the second contest in high school baseball action.

The Smittys managed just two hits in the opener, but came to life for the nightcap.

“We lost 3-0 in a close game, but between games kind of fired up the boys a little bit,” said Smittys coach Nathan Gonnelly. “Got a little bit more energy and came to compete.”

Aberdeen struck first in the second game with two runs in the top of the first as Grant Beyer produced an RBI single before Ridley Waldo drew a bases-loaded walk.

Watertown responded with five runs in the bottom half of the frame, however Aberdeen scored six runs in the top of the third inning. Karson Borge drove in two runs with a single and Jaxon Ladner had a two-run double to highlight the frame.

“We talked a lot about our 0-2 approach, just fighting off foul balls, and working the pitch count, and just driving in runs when we have bases loaded or guys in scoring position,” Gonnelly said.

Watertown tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, before the Smittys plated the eventual game-winning run when Borge doubled with two on in the top of the seventh inning.

“Overall, just a great comeback kind of game, especially after a tough loss in game one,” Gonnelly said. “I mean game one, we had guys pitch great. Joe Cogley went out and did his job, and then Jaxon Ladner came back in to help him out.”

Borge, Beyer, Michael Dutenhoffer, and Bennett Eisenbeisz each finished with a pair of hits for the Smittys. Borge also drove in three runs.

“Overall, a good day, kind of a good way to cap off our long stretch of games,” Gonnelly said. “We had nine straight days of baseball, now just a little bit of a break before we go back to Sioux Falls this weekend to compete against some good teams.”

The Smittys will play at Sioux Falls Washington and Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Saturday.

Aberdeen Smittys 000 000 0 – 0 2 2

Watertown 000 300 x – 3 6 1

Joe Cogley, Jaxon Ladner (5) and Levi Hoffman; Jackson McClemans, Ashton Rabine (6) and K. Rylance.

Aberdeen Smittys 206 000 1 – 9 11 0

Watertown 500 003 0 – 8 13 2

Branson Peterson, Jared Klootwyk (5), Karson Borge (6) and Levi Hoffman; Luka Lessin, C. Everson (3), Marcus Pitkin (5), Nathan Briggs (7) and J. Lake. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Jaxon Ladner, Borge, Michael Dutenhoffer; Watertown, K. Rylance, Briggs. HR – Watertown, Briggs.