MINGO JUNCTION — The Indian Creek baseball team came through in the ninth inning against Carrollton to bring the marathon game to an end.

With the score knotted at two and one out in the bottom of the ninth, three straight Indian Creek batters reached with the winning run scoring on an RBI single by Hunter Rusnak enabling the Redskins to defeat the Warriors, 3-2, Friday evening on Senior Day at Muth Field.

“We’re not hitting the ball very well right now, but we found a way to win the game,” Indian Creek (19-4) head coach Mike Cottis said. “Pitching and defense won that game for us. Sylus did a great job, and Max and James kept us in the game. We were able to get the big hit when we needed it. It was a good game between two good teams.”

The victory earns Creek a split of two meetings between the teams which entered the week ranked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, by the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association.

With one out in the ninth, Caleb Bodo — Indian Creek’s No. 9 batter — reached on an error to give the hosts a baserunner. Indian Creek’s right fielder was then replaced by pinch runner Logan Wedlake. Then, Indian Creek’s leadoff man and Marshall commit Ty Householder singled to right to advance Wedlake to second. Finally, Rusnak – the Redskins’ catcher – singled to right scoring Wedlake to end the game.

The Redskins and Warriors (17-5) have played three close games in the past year. Indian Creek defeated Carrollton, 5-4, last year at Edison in the district finals, however, the Warriors defeated the Redskins, 3-1, Wednesday at home.

“That is why we are playing these games,” Cottis said. “We both know we have solid teams. Playing good teams is how you get better. They got us Wednesday, so it was nice to come back here today and get a win. All of our losses have been like one-run or two-run losses. It is nice to come out on top of one of these games.”

The hosts led 2-1 in the seventh before the visitors scored on an one-out single to ty the score and ultimately send the game into extra innings.

The victors used three pitchers in the game. Sylus Hyde started, and he ended up with a no-decision. Hyde struck out eight and walked four in his 6 1/3 innings of work. He was replaced by Max Lane with one out in the seventh. Lane allowed the tying run to score, but that was the only run he allowed in his 1 2/3 innings of relief work. He struck out one and walked one. James Brothers came on to pitch the ninth, and he picked up the win. Brothers struck out one without walking a batter.

The visitors from Carroll County used two pitchers. Isaac Husted started on the hill, and he ended up with a no-decision. Husted struck out five and walked one. He was replaced by Michael Mullen to start the sixth. Mullen ended up taking the loss. He struck out three and walked three in his 3 1/3 innings on the mound.

Both teams had seven hits. The Red and Gold tallied three doubles in the game, while the boys in black collected one.

Householder and Rusnak each recorded a single and a double with Rusnak contributing the game-winning RBI, Hyde hit a double and Sal Barcalow and Gavin Pownall each produced a single and an RBI.

For Carrollton, Hunter Allison tallied a double, Landon James and Nevan Woods each delivered a single and an RBI while Jacob Whitmore, Cooper Haun, Brayden Swearingen and Husted all collected a base hit.

Indian Creek committed one error in the game, while Carrollton committed four – with the last one eventually leading to the game-winning run being scored.

The game was scores through three innings.

In the fourth, Haun singled with one out to give the Warriors a runner on base, and he advanced to second on a single by Swearingen. Then after a strikeout, Woods singled home Braun to give Carrollton a 1-0 lead.

It did not last long.

Barcalow led off the home half of the inning by drawing a walk before advancing to third on a double by Hyde. After a groundout to third, Pownall singled to right scoring Barcalow to even the score at 1-1. After a walk, the Warriors were able to get out of the inning thanks to a strikeout and a fielder’s choice.

The Redskins kept the momentum on their side as the boys in the gold jerseys scored their second run of the game in the fifth to take the lead. Householder led off the inning with a double, and he advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Rusnak before scoring on a single by Barcalow to make it a 2-1 ballgame.

The hosts held the lead until the seventh.

With one out, Garrett Broadwater was hit by a pitch to put a runner on base, Broadwater then advanced to second on a single by Whitmore before scoring on a single by James to tie the score at 2-all.

Neither team was able to score in the eight, setting the stage of Rusnak’s heroics in the ninth.

“These games matter,” Cottis said. “Anytime the umpire says, ‘Play ball’ the game matters. These kids want to win.”

Indian Creek honored its six seniors before and after the game. The seniors are Stan Amis, Hunter Allen, Jayce Nett, Householder, Bodo and Barcalow.

“Winning this game was huge for our seniors,” Cottis said. “They are a great bunch of guys. They work hard. We are going to miss them, but our season is not over. We still have some baseball games left to play.”

Indian Creek is set to play St. Clairsville at 5 p.m. Monday on the road before the Red Devils and Redskins meet up again at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Indian Creek.

“They are another good team,” Cottis said. “We are going to have the opportunity to play two games against them.”

Indian Creek 3, Carrollton 2

Carrollton 000 100 100 – 2 7 4

Indian Creek 000 110 001 – 3 7 1

CARROLLTON (17-5): Husted (5IP, 5K, 1BB), Mullen LP (3 1/3IP, 3K, 3BB) and James. Husted S; Whitmore S; James S, RBI; Haun S; Allison D; Swearingen S; Woods S, RBI.

INDIAN CREEK (19-4): Hyde (6 1/3IP, 8K, 4BB), Lane (1 2/3IP, 1K, 1BB), Brothers WP (1IP, 1K, 0BB) and Rusnak. Householder S, D; Rusnak S, D, RBI; Barcalow S, RBI; Hyde D; Pownall S, RBI.