TORONTO — The Toronto baseball team battled Boardman for seven innings, however, the Spartans plated a pair of runs in the fifth inning en route to recording a 5-3 victory against the Red Knights Wednesday evening at the Knight Baseball Complex.

“It was a good game,” Toronto (7-2) head coach Brian Perkins said. “We had our opportunities against a really good Division II Boardman team. Our kids battled. We had some uncharacteristic blunders in the field. The good thing about baseball is we get to come back tomorrow and get after it.”

The score was deadlocked at 2 going into the top of the fifth when the visitors belted back-to-back doubles to retake the lead at 3-2 before the Spartans tacked on another run on a sacrifice fly to take a 4-2 lead.

The hosts countered with a run in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 4-3 ballgame, however, the Red Knights stranded the tying run at third base.

The Spartans scored a run on an error in the sixth to regain a two-run advantage at 5-3. Toronto had two more innings to bat, however, the boys in the red jerseys were unable to score again.

“Early on, we barreled up some balls. We hit some shots, but they were right at them, and they turned into outs,” Perkins said. “If we keep hitting the ball hard, eventually they are going to fall, and we will create our own breaks. Like you said, we hit the ball hard, but we just hit it right at them.”

The hosts used three pitchers in the game. Drake Bouscher started, and he was saddled with the loss. Bouscher pitched four innings, striking out six and walking two.

“Drake Bouscher started on the mound, and he did a great job,” Perkins said. “He kept them off-balance. He’s only a sophomore, but he did an outstanding job.”

Cole Barcus relieved Bouscher in the fifth. Barcus did not record a strikeout while walking two in two innings of work on the mound. Russ Dickinson pitched the seventh. He did not record a strikeout while walking one.

“Our pitchers did a really good job,” Perkins said. “I am proud of all three. Russ has not had the opportunity to pitch for us, but he came in in the seventh and did a good job. He gave us a chance.”

Mason Nawrocki picked up the win for Boardman. He struck out two and walked two in four innings of work on the mound. Landon Whippo came on in the fifth, and he struck out four and walked two. Whippo pitched the final three innings of the game.

The Spartans outhit the Red Knights, 8-4.

Offensively, Whippo produced a single, a double and two RBI, Tyler Kirlik collected a double and an RBI and Kayden Mayhew tallied a single and an RBI. Also, Vince Butto, Grayson Eicher, Ivan Rudiak, and Cory Pekkanen all produced a single, while Ryan Neifer recorded an RBI.

For Toronto, Aiden Fil by finished with a double, Chase Heckathorn tripled and Michael Henry tallied a single and an RBI. Also, Gunnar Newbold delivered a base hit, while Bouscher and Dickinson each brought home a run.

The Red and White took the early lead with a run in the second, however, the Spartans answered with two runs in the third to take a 2-1 lead. Toronto responded with a run in the home half of the inning to knot the score at 2.

“Things have gone really well,” Perkins said. “We are 7-2, and we play River tomorrow.”

Toronto is scheduled to take on River at 5 p.m. today back at the KBC.

“We have played River a lot,” Perkins said. “They’re always good, and they’re always well coached. We would not expect anything less. We are going to have to show up ready to play.”

Boardman is slated to play Howland at 5 p.m. today at home.

Boardman 5, Toronto 3

Boardman 002 021 0 – 5 8 3

Toronto 011 010 0 – 3 4 2

BOARDMAN (5-1): Nawrocki WP (4K, 2BB), Whippo (3IP, 4K, 0BB) and Pekkanen. Kirlik D, RBI; Whippo S, D, 2RBI; Mayhew S, RBI; Neifer RBI; Butto S; Eicher S; Rudiak S; Pekkanen S.

TORONTO (7-2): Bouscher LP (4IP, 6K, 2BB), Barcus(2IP, 0K, 2BB), Dickinson (1IP, 0K, 1BB) and Henry. Filby D; Heckathorn T; Henry S, RBI; Newbold S; Bouscher RBI; Dickinson RBI.