BUSSEY – North Mahaska scored seven runs in its baseball opener at Twin Cedars Tuesday, but physical and mental errors put a damper on the outing as Twin Cedars won 12-7. It was the second game in as many days for the host Sabers.

North Mahaska (0-1) scored in the first inning taking advantage of walks and TC miscues. TC turned the tables in their half of the first inning scoring three times on two hits and an error. NM answered with four runs of their own to regain the lead 5-3. The game see-sawed until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Sabers exploded with three runs on three hits and an error. North Mahaska was unable to catch up.

“It looked like a first game,” said NM coach Kevin Kelderman. “At times it was like the first time we have been together. We made too many mental mistakes on the bases and in the field. We just didn’t play smart.”

On the upside, North Mahaska was 5-for-5 stealing bases.

“We should be able to steal bases, but we can’t make running errors .”

Senior Drake Hall scored twice and drove in two runs. Hunter Wernli had two hits with an RBI while Ben Johannes added a double and two RBI and Nash Smith had an RBI single.

Jack Kelderman took the loss for North Mahaska. He pitched three innings of relief allowing five runs on five hits a walk and strikeout. Nash Smith was the starter going three innings allowing seven runs on five hits, four walks, a hit batsman and recording seven strikeouts.

Casey Clark and Reid McElroy each had three hits. Clark was the starting pitcher and gave up seven runs on five hits, four walks and a strikeout. Blake Micetich took the win tossing five innings allowing no runs on two hits, six strikeouts and a walk.

North Mahaska hosts Baxter Wednesday.