LAKE NORDEN – The Aberdeen Smittys scored five runs over the last two innings to rally for an 8-4 American Legion baseball win over Lake Norden-Badger on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts grabbed an early lead on a two-run single by George Jensen in the bottom of the first inning, and added RBI hits from Dawson Noem and Cristhian Rodriguez in the fifth.

However, a pair of Aberdeen pitchers combined to throw seven scoreless innings to keep the Smittys in it.

“Our pitchers did an outstanding job again,” said Smittys coach Nathan Gonnelly. “Joran Foss did a great job setting the tone early on and Jaxson Ladner came in and kept us in it.”

Meanwhile, Aberdeen kept chipping away at the deficit.

Drew Salfrank had a big day at the plate, finishing with four hits and four RBI. He drove in runs in the fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth innings, and also scored Aberdeen’s first run in the third.

“Our bats started off a little cold … however as the game progressed we started seeing some life,” Gonnelly said. “Drew Salfrank did phenomenal at the plate today. He was the guy who stayed consistent for us to allow others to get in the groove.”

Casey Vining added a two-run double in a pivotal three-run eighth inning as the Smittys took the lead. Talan Dutenhoeffer had an RBI single in the ninth.

Turner Stevenson had two hits for Lake Norden-Badger.

The Smittys have now won four straight games. They play at Sioux Falls Post 15 on Monday before hosting Renner at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Fossum Field.

“Overall, it was a good game for us,” Gonnelly said. “We just need to continue to stay focused throughout this next stretch of games.”

Aberdeen Smittys 001 101 032 – 8 8 1

Lake Norden-Badger 200 020 000 – 4 6 6

Joran Foss, Jaxon Ladner (4) and Talan Dutenhoeffer; Dawson Noem, unreported pitcher (2), Cristhian Rodriguez (8) and Rodriguez. 2B – Aberdeen Smittys, Drew Salfrank (2), Casey Vining.