PIERRE – The Aberdeen Smittys had a rally fall short and then dropped a pitcher’s duel in losing a pair of games to Pierre in American Legion baseball action on Wednesday.

Pierre built a nine-run lead in the opener and held on for a 10-6 win. The hosts then edged the Smittys 2-1 in the nightcap in a game where Aberdeen stranded 11 runners on base.

Aberdeen coach Josh Steinwandt noted the pitching performances of Branson Peterson who started game one, and Bennett Eisenbeisz who went the distance in game two.

“Branson and Bennett both had great outings … bats couldn’t find it the whole day,” Steinwandt said.

The Smittys took a lead in the first game with a run in the top of the second inning when Joe Cogley doubled, moved up on a single from Michael Dutenhoffer, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Eisenbeisz.

Pierre responded with 10 straight runs, including seven in the bottom of the fifth when Ryker Edson had a bases-loaded single to plate three runs, and Carter Schiefelbein added a two-run home run.

Aberdeen scored four times in the top of the sixth to close the gap. Jackson Post doubled and scored on an error, Drake Soderlund and JaSean River had RBI singles, and another run scored on a wild pitch. However, the Smittys had a runner thrown out at the plate in the frame.

Aberdeen added another run in the seventh on Cogley’s RBI single, but could get no closer.

Cogley finished with three hits and Post had a pair in the setback.

The Smittys struggled getting a key hit in the one-run setback.

Levi Hoffman walked and eventually scored on a passed ball in the second, but Aberdeen was kept off the board other than that. The Smittys left the bases loaded in the first and seventh innings, and stranded two runners in the second.

Jehiel Aviles had two hits for the Smittys in the second game.

Eisenbeisz allowed just one earned run in seven innings.

“Pretty frustrating day,” Steinwandt said, “as we had chances the whole day, just couldn’t capitalize.”

Aberdeen is off until hosting Brookings in a doubleheader at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Fossum Field.

Aberdeen Smittys 010 004 1 – 6 9 4

Pierre 001 270 x – 10 9 1

Branson Peterson, Wheeler Malsam (5) and Levi Hoffman; Will Danburg, Hudson Stoeser (7) and Sutton Sonneschein. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Joe Cogley, Jackson Post; Pierre, A. Johnson. HR – Pierre, Carter Schiefelbein.

Aberdeen Smittys 010 000 0 – 1 5 1

Pierre 001 100 x – 2 6 2

Benny Eisenbeisz and Levi Hoffman; Hudson Shaffer, Hudson Stoeser (6) and Sutton Sonnenschein. 2B – Pierre, A. Eilers, Porter Hunsley.