WILLMAR -- Jordan Smith slugged a two-run homer, scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning and pick up the win in relief as Willmar edged Tri-Town 4-3 in an American Legion baseball game Tuesday.
Matt Seehusen doubled after Smith drew a walk with two out in the ninth. Tri-Town misplayed Seehusen's extra-base hit, allowing Smith to score from first.
David Anderson settled down after surrendering three runs to Tri-Town in the first two innings. Ethan Reed and Jeff Peterson scored on errors and Jordan Tanner singled in a run to help the Black Sox stake an early 3-2 lead.
Anderson gave up only three hits over the next five innings while Willmar tied the game in the fourth. Anderson finished with eight strikeouts to overcome issuing five walks.
Smith gave Willmar (8-5) a short-lived 2-1 lead after bringing home Logan Birkland -- who had reached on an error -- with a home run to right field in the first.
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Smith later tossed two perfect innings of relief to earn the win, striking out two along the way.
Willmar got two hits apiece from Smith, Seehusen and Alex Malmgren.
Willmar is off until Saturday when it participates in Albany's wood bat tournament in St. Martin.
Willmar 4, Tri-Town 3
Tri-Town 120 000 000 -- 3 6 2
Willmar 200 100 001 -- 4 8 2
HITTING - Tri-Town: Jordan Tanner 1-for-4, rbi; Jeff Peterson 1-for-3, 2b; Vance Martin 1-for-3, rbi; Travis Frederiksen 1-for-4; Brooks Maurer 1-for-3; Ethan Reed 1-for-4 ... Willmar: Mike Dunham 1-for-5; Jordan Smith 2-for-2, 2 bb's, 2-run HR, 2 rbi; Matt Seehusen 2-for-4; Josh Oestriech 1-for-3; Alex Malmgren 2-for-4
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Tri-Town: Vance Martin (L) 82/3-8-4-1-3-7 ... Willmar: David Anderson 7-6-3-2-5-8; Jordan Smith (W) 2-0-0-0-0-2
