WATERTOWN – The Aberdeen Smittys outhit Watertown Tuesday night, but found runs difficult to come by in an American Legion baseball twinbill setback. Watertown won the first game 10-0 and then edged the Smittys 2-0 in the nightcap.

“Frustrating night to say the least,” said Smittys coach Brandon Kusler. “Couldn’t get anything going offensively today. We had a few chances with runners in scoring position tonight, but we just couldn’t come through with that big hit.”

Aberdeen had 11 hits on the evening compared to seven for Watertown, but the Smittys also committed six errors on the night and also surrendered 11 walks in the opening game.

“Credit to their pitches for filling up the zone and attacking our hitters,” Kusler said, “and their defense made play after play all night.”

Watertown broke open the first game with seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. Drew Denzer had a two-run triple and Treyton Himmerich drove in one with a single.

“In game one, we just simply didn’t do a good enough job throwing strikes or making routine plays,” Kusler said, “and they made us pay for those mistakes.”

The second game was a pitcher’s battle as Jaiden Smith threw a complete-game two-hitter for the Smittys.

“Game 2 was a step in the right direction. Jaiden Smith gave us another great outing on the mound, threw a lot of strikes and worked himself out of a few tough spots,” Kusler said. “The two runs they scored were simply defensive lapses on our end, and that proved to be the difference.”

Aberdeen had runners on second and third with one out in the second inning, and had two hits in the seventh but failed to cash in.

Smith and Phillip Zens each had two hits for Aberdeen in the first game. Andrew Woehl doubled in the second contest.

The Smittys hosts Fargo Davies in a 4 p.m. doubleheader Friday at Fossum Field.

“We just have to get back to our brand of baseball, which is attacking hitters and playing clean defense. The offense will come, I’m confident in that,” Kusler said. “Despite the two losses, we saw a lot of good things tonight from a lot of our guys.”

Aberdeen Smittys 000 00 – 0 6 4

Watertown 703 0x – 10 5 0

Casey Vining, Phillip Zens (2), Gavyn Jaragoske (4) and Andrew Woehl; Jack Heesch, Treyton Himmerich (4) and Carson Mutschler. 2B – Watertown, Will Engstrom. 3B – Aberdeen Smittys, Zens; Watertown, Drew Denzer.

Aberdeen Smittys 000 000 0 – 0 5 2

Watertown 001 001 x – 2 2 0

Jaiden Smith and Andrew Ristau-Richardson; Will Engstrom and Carson Mutschler. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Andrew Woehl.