Aberdeen Central produced its second highest run total of the season, but once again a big inning proved to be a culprit for the Golden Eagles Thursday afternoon.

Brandon Valley exploded for a dozen runs in the top of the second inning to fuel a 19-7 Eastern South Dakota Conference softball victory at Koehler Hall of Fame Field.

Central rallied from a 13-run deficit and eventually closed the gap to eight runs, but was unable to overcome the early hole.

“Today was so much fun to watch them come out there and compete,” said Central coach Cassidy Neer. “We had a couple rough moments here and there, but overall they did such an outstanding job and they really played hard start to finish. I was really proud of them.”

As has been the case multiple times this spring, a big inning cost the Golden Eagles. This time it came in the second frame.

“We battled really well with them. After the second inning it got better,” said Central’s Rylee Beyer. “Of course that second inning was kind of bad, but we always have that one inning.”

Central responded with two runs in each of the second, third and fourth innings to claw back to within 14-6. Each team scored once in the sixth before the Lynx tacked on four more runs in the seventh.

Beyer scored on a ground out for Central’s first run, and Avery Bendewald doubled in the second run in the second.

Jovee Wald singled to start the third and scored on a double by Alivia Roettele, who later scored on a sacrifice fly from Alexis Hoag.

Jayla Breaw singled in a run in the fourth before Waldo scored for the second time on an error.

Waldo ended up reaching base three times and scored a pair of runs.

“I’m ready for all my following players to hit me home,” Waldo said. “I got home a few times today.”

Abby Frank scored Central’s final run coming across on a ground out.

The Golden Eagles finished with 10 hits on the day, led by Sydney Hoag, Bendewald and Frank with two each.

“Definitely when we’re doing BP we just kind of are more selective with the pitching,” Beyer said, “and work more on the pitches that we normally don’t see that much so we’re ready for when they do come in.”

Central was solid up and down the lineup with seven different players collecting hits.

“Everyone was working really hard today,” Waldo said, “and I’m proud of every single one of my teammates.”

While the Golden Eagles had a few tough moments in the field, they came up with some sparkling plays as well.

“They definitely made up for some situations. We had some double plays there, some big plays in the outfield, getting the ball in quickly from the outfield and limiting them to just one base or two bases without giving up really big hits,” Neer said. “We didn’t give up any home runs today and we limited the amount of batters we walked.”

Waldo, a team captain, has one specific goal as the season is quickly winding to a close.

“I’m really hoping that maybe I can hit a home run coming up. … In our game against Rapid I was about a foot away,” Waldo said. “I was so close. … I know I can do it.”

Central plays at Harrisburg on Tuesday before hosting its final home game of the season on Thursday against Tea Area.

Brandon Valley 1(12)1 001 4 – 19 19 1

Aberdeen Central 022 201 0 – 7 10 4

Kenley Williamson, Ayva Lane (4) and Madeline Plumbtree; Abby Frank, Sydney Hoag (3) and Alivia Roettele. 2B – Brandon Valley, Kennedy Fitts 3, Ava Groeneveld, Alexa Harms, Kinsley Kathman, Peyton Amdahl; Aberdeen Central, Avery Bendewald, Alexis Hoag, Roettele.