Sue Sitter/PCT Rugby’s Alex Berndt throws a pitch against the Harvey Eagles in Harvey, June 30.

After battling to a 22-17 win against Towner’s Ironbirds on June 29, Rugby Panthers’ Babe Ruth baseball team battled back from a two-run deficit against the Harvey Eagles to win 7-3 on June 30.

The Eagles struck first in the game, establishing a two-run lead they held with the help of pitcher Nixon Buchmiller.

Buchmiller kept the Eagles on top with three strikeouts in the second inning.

The Eagles defense held Rugby back in the third inning before things “got moving” for Rugby’s offense, according to Rugby’s coach Travis Risovi.

“We got off to a really slow start and it took awhile for us to get moving and get our offense going especially, and our defensively, we didn’t make plays in the first inning,” he said.

“Once we woke up a little bit and stuff started going our way, you heard a little more energy and life and the boys started playing a little better,” he added, noting his team hadn’t been too talkative at the game’s start.

Rugby’s John Lashman took advantage of a walk that landed him on first base in the fourth inning to beat a throw to second base after the Eagles caught a pop fly hit by Clifton Brossart. Brody Berndt batted Lashman in, cutting Harvey’s lead to 2-1. Walks put more Panthers on base. With bases loaded, Rugby’s tying run walked across home plate.

Two more followed, one on a missed catch. A sacrifice RBI came from batter Landon Zietz before the inning ended with a 5-2 Panthers lead.

Rugby’s Alex Berndt allowed one base hit and a steal from the Eagles before he ended Harvey’s time at the plate with a strikeout and batters out at first.

Although Brossart would take advantage of a walk to take second base, the Eagles neutralized the threat by tagging him out at third.

Both teams kept each other at bay in the fifth inning.

Jove Risovi landed on first base with a walk before stealing second, then crossing home plate on a base hit by Jayden Wald. Wald ran home on a wild pitch, giving Rugby a 7-2 lead.

Buchmiller and the Eagles staved off any more threats from the Panthers.

In the sixth inning, Harvey’s Ashton Kuman landed on first with a short grounder bobbled by Rugby.

Alex Berndt and the Panthers tightened up the defense, holding steady in the seventh inning for the win.

“We have a few kids gone at camp this week. They’re our 15 year olds,” Risovi said after the game.

“Some of our other kids got chances to play. Everyone had a chance to play,” he added.

“We pitched some younger guys and we had some kids at different positions. It was one of those games where we got off to a big lead early, then we let them get back into the game,” he noted.

“On Monday, our 13-year-olds played two games in Devils Lake,” he added. “The first one, we won. Clifton Brossart pitched a fantastic four innings. The second game, we had some errors that cost us, so we ended up losing 10-5 in the second game.”

The Panthers played their final three games of the season at home on Rugby’s Northern Lights Field. Results from the Panthers’ July 5 game against Turtle Mountain, and a double header against Cando and Rolla July 6 will appear in the July 16 edition of the Tribune.