A four-run fifth inning provided just the cushion visiting Winterset needed Monday as the Huskies held off a pair of late Perry rallies to claim a 6-4 win over the Bluejays in Raccoon River Conference baseball.
Winterset improved to 10-4 overall and 3-3 in RRC play with the win while Perry continues to seek their first win of the season, falling to 0-11, 0-7.
A first-inning run gave the guests a 1-0 lead, a margin that stood until four Huskies scored in the fifth for a 5-0 advantage. The gap grew to 6-0 after the top of the sixth, but Perry countered with two runs to set the score at 6-2.
Two Bluejays crossed the plate in the bottom of the seventh as the team refused to go quietly, but the rally could not be extended, the game ending at 6-4.
Keghan West threw five innings for Perry, allowed five runs, but six Perry errors meant only two were earned. He yielded four hits and four walks, hit one batter and struck out three.
Kato Dougan pitched 1-2/3 frames, yielding a run on two hits and two walks while striking out five, with Avery Meister walking the first of two batters he faced and then striking out the second.
Kaden Boyer had three singles and a RBI, with Justin Stammer and Kaleb Olejniczak adding base hits. West had a RBI, with Dougan and Conner Kenyon driving in runs with sacrifices.
Olejniczak was hit by a pitch and stole a base, with Quinn Helmers walking once and also being hit with a pitch. Stammer, Olejniczak, Meister and courtesy runner Juan Hernandez each scored for Perry.
Easton Darling went 5-1/3 frames for Winterset, allowing three hits and walking six while striking out four. Will Heithoff fanned two batters and surrendered two hits in 1-2/3 innings of work. Both hurlers allowed two runs, all four of which were unearned.
Perry hosts North Polk tonight, Carroll Wednesday and Boone Thursday.
