YANKTON – The Aberdeen Smittys continued to have a tough time solving Yankton pitching, falling 10-0 in the opening game of their American Legion baseball regional best-of-three series on Wednesday night.

In three games against Yankton so far this summer, the Smittys have been shutout twice and scored four total runs.

Yankton scored in all five innings on the way to its 10-run rule five-inning victory. The hosts put up three runs in both the second and third frames, and also scored twice in the fourth inning.

The Smittys finished the game with two hits, a single from Karson Borge and a double from Michael Dutenhoffer.

Yankton managed just six hits in the contest, including a pair of doubles from Easton Feser, but also took advantage of four walks and a pair of Aberdeen errors, which led to four unearned runs.

“We have to stop giving them extra outs in innings,” said Smittys coach Josh Steinwandt. “And we have to play all around better baseball. I expect us to come back and be ready to play two (games Thursday).”

Game two of the series is set for noon today. The Smittys will need to win that contest in order  to force a third game, which would take place at 2 this afternoon.

The winner of the series will advance to the State A tournament starting next week in Rapid City.

Aberdeen Smittys 000 00 – 0 2 2

Yankton 133 21 – 10 6 0

Benny Eisenbeisz, JaSean Rivera (5) and Levi Hoffman; Beck Ryken and Gavin Johnson. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Michael Dutenhoffer; Yankton, Easton Feser 2, Samuel Gokie.