SIOUX FALLS – The Aberdeen Smittys rallied from an early deficit, but eventually had their 14-game winning streak come to an end on Friday night.

The Smittys, who erased a six-run deficit, fell to Buffalo, Minn., 8-6 in the opening round of the Dakota Classic American Legion baseball tournament in Sioux Falls.

Aberdeen trailed 6-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before the offense came to life. Two runs scored on an error before Casey Vining produced an RBI double. Brendan Livermont then drove home a pair on a single to close the gap to 6-5.

The Smittys tied the score in the sixth on an RBI single from Phillip Zens, but Aberdeen left the bases loaded in the frame.

After Buffalo scored twice in the top of the seventh inning, the Smittys still had a solid opportunity in the bottom half of the frame. They had the tying runs on second and third with nobody out, but were unable to cash in.

Livermont and Drew Salrank each had two hits in the contest. Zens drove in three, while Livermont had a pair of RBI.

The Smittys, 15-4, are right back in action again this morning taking on Yankton at 10:30 in a key league game. Aberdeen plays Sioux Falls Post 15 later in the day.

Buffalo 410 010 2 – 8 14 3

Aberdeen Smittys 000 051 0 – 6 7 3

Buffalo battery not available; Grant Beyer, Donnie Soderlund (6) and Zane Backous. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Brendan Livermont, Casey Vining.