On Friday, an opponent took advantage of a variety of Aberdeen Central miscues. On Saturday morning, the Golden Eagles did the same thing against Sturgis.

Central racked up 15 runs despite just four hits that got out of the infield on the way to at 15-8 non-conference victory at Koehler Hall of Fame Field.

After giving up three runs in the top of the first inning to start the game, the Eagles exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the frame on just three hits.

“We got behind right away there. We had a little bit of blunders on defense and then we just really found a way to fight back, dig deep, score some runs right back at them,” said Central coach Cassidy Neer, “and I couldn’t be more proud of how our girls battled today. They really found ways to capitalize on the other team’s errors.”

Central used four walks, three hits, an error, a hit batter and aggressive baserunning to circle the bases in the bottom of the first inning.

“I think we’re eager to get home,” said Aliyah Torigian of her team’s strategy on the basepaths. “We’ve been working on our throw downs and we’ve all be running bases as hard as we can. We’re just rounding the bases to get home. That’s all we care about is getting those runs in.”

It was more of the same in the second inning as the Eagles tacked on five more runs with just one hit. Three batters hit by pitches, a walk and an error allowed six runners to reach base and nearly all of them scored.

The Scoopers added three more runs in the top of the third to stay within reach, but after that Central pitcher Kylee Kiesow slammed the door allowing just one run and three hits over the final four innings.

She said giving up three runs to start the game was tough, but after that she was able to get ahead in the count.

“It was difficult, and then I had a bunch of first-ball pitches which is not ideal, so I just kind of locked in after that,” Kiesow said. “I was like I’ve got to this next inning, start with the strikes, get it going and I did.”

Central’s defense was charged with six errors, but also came up with solid plays behind Kiesow to help the hosts stay in front.

“When we make an error we kind of bounce back,” Kiesow said, “and were like ‘OK, let’s take a breath, we’ve been through this, we know how to get through it’ and it works out.”

In the end, the Golden Eagles found a way to win a game that last year they maybe would have lost.

Neer said her players continue to learn and improve each time out.

“I just think we have girls that are super bought in. We have that growth mindset every day,” Neer said. “We’re taking what we learn from the games and applying them in our practices directly, so during games, we’re making lists of things we can improve on and incorporating that right into our practice plan.”

Central honored its two seniors on the squad, Ayrlie Waldo and Laney Gonsor, on senior day.

The Eagles have now won three of their last four games. Torigian said chemistry and hard work have made the difference.

“I really think it was team bonding. In the beginning we just weren’t really connected as we are now,” Torigian said. “We’re all cheering each other on all the time. We just know each other and what we’re going to do, and we’ve worked hard. We spend two hours every day at practice working our butts off to get here.”

And there’s also something to be said for going through trials and hardship together for a second-year program.

“Being together all the time, and being through the hardships, has really helped us bounce back and pick ourselves up,” Kiesow said, “and the wins just make us feel better and know we can do it.”

Waldo and Rachel Siefken each had two hits for Central. Siefken drove in a pair of runs, while Kylee Hoffman, Avery Bendewald, Reese Comstock, Addison Ward, Torigian, and Siefken each scored twice.

Central will host Harrisburg at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Koehler Hall of Fame Field in its fifth straight and final home game of the season.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Neer said of the final stretch of home games. “We’re peaking at the right time and I’m really happy about that.”

Sturgis 303 100 1 – 8 8 2

Aberdeen Central 950 001 x – 15 6 6

Kaci Buckenberg, Skylar Legner (1), Abigail Tweedy (2) and Avery Anderson, Arveigh Long; Kaylee Kiesow and Reese Comstock.