JEWELL — The South Hamilton baseball team, a few days following a stellar debut, had themselves a battle on their hands to start the second week of the regular season.

Facing off against Perry for their home opener this past Monday at the Mike Penning Athletic Complex, the Hawks held a two-run lead before coming up short in a 5-4 decision in 10 innings.

It was a pitcher’s duel between senior Landen Skartvedt and Perry hurler Owen Myers, with Skartvedt fanning five Bluejays in five frames while Myers struck out 11 batters in seven innings.

The Hawks held a 4-2 lead heading into the top of the seventh, before Perry rallied with two runs to push the game into extras. In the 10th inning, the Bluejays plated a walk-off run to end the game.

Due to their first setback of the season, South High dipped down to 1-1 overall. The Bluejays improved to 1-3 overall.

This past Tuesday, the Hawks traveled north to Hampton-Dumont-CAL for a nonconference contest at the HDC Baseball Field in Hampton. At 7:30 p.m. today, the Hawks returned home to square off against Greene County at the Mike Penning Athletic Complex.

Both results will be reported in an upcoming edition of the Daily Freeman-Journal.

Junior Noah Gunderson led the Hawks at the dish with a two RBI effort, while senior Carter Balvanz and junior Rylund Ubben contributed with an RBI each. Skartvedt, junior Owen Duns and teammate Landon Greufe each recorded two hits against Perry.