MAPLE GROVE, Minn. – The Aberdeen Smittys spotted Thunder Bay, Ontario a five-run lead before storming back for a 15-7 victory during the Gopher Classic in American Legion baseball action on Friday.

“Proud of the way the guys responded after a slow start today,” said Smittys coach Brandon Kusler. “All year long this group has done a great job of flipping a switch when things aren’t going our way, and it’s really cool to see.”

The Smittys turned the game around by scoring nine runs in the third inning when they pieced together 10 hits. The frame started with three straight singles to load the bases before the runs started coming in. Jaiden Smith had a two-run single, Cooper Eisenbeisz followed with a two-run single, Jackson Welke delivered a two-run double, Drew Salfrank drove in a pair with a single, and Smith drove in his third run in the inning with another single. The final out of the frame came at the plate when an Aberdeen runner was thrown out trying to score another run.

“The nine-run third inning was obviously huge for us,” Kusler said. “Jackson Welke got us going with a lead-off single and got us back to the top of our lineup which helped sparked that big inning. After that, we continued to add to our lead, and Welke was solid for us in relief.”

Aberdeen added two more runs in the fourth, one coming on another Salfrank RBI single, and then ended the game on an eight-run rule with four more runs in the sixth. Brendan Livermont had a solo home run, and Casey Vining capped the scoring with a bases-loaded double.

Salfrank and Eisenbeisz each had three hits in Aberdeen’s 15-hit attack. Smith, Vining and Welke each had two hits. Salfrank, Smith and Vining each drove in three runs, while Eisenbeisz and Welke both finished with a pair of RBI.

Welke pitched four innings in relief to get the victory.

Aberdeen, 22-12 on the season, is back in action with a pair of games today. The Smittys face the Sartell-St. Stephen Sabres at 9 a.m., and Bellevue East, Neb., at 11:30 a.m.

“Looking forward to two more opportunities (Saturday) against a couple good teams,” Kusler said.

Thunder Bay 131 110 – 7 7 1

Aberdeen Smittys 009 204 – 15 15 3

Perry, A. Tassone (3), Desando (5), Hart (5) and Height; Casey Vining, Jackson Welke (3) and Zane Backous. 2B – Thunder Bay, Fonso, Desando; Aberdeen Smittys, Welke, Vining. 3B – Aberdeen Smittys, Cooper Eisenbeisz. HR – Aberdeen Smittys, Brendan Livermont.