A late inning surge by the opposition dampened the outcome for the Washington Demon baseball team in their home opener Tuesday night. The Demons welcomed the Eddyville-Blakesburg Rockets to Dick Sojka Memorial Field for a single non-conference clash. A three run sixth inning by the Rockets proved to be the difference in the game, winning 7-6 over the Demons.

Eddyville-Blakesburg opened the scoring in the top of the third inning, recording two runs against Washington starting pitcher Blake Weidman. Junior Colin Zear relieved Weidman with two outs and allowed a ground out to third base to end the inning down 2-0.

Washington opened their scoring in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs off one hit in the frame. The only hit recorded in the bottom of the third came from sophomore Michael Gier, a single which scored pinch runner Noah Enfield for the Demons’ first run of the season. Washington tied up the game one batter later after Weidman reached on a fielding error in the outfield, plating sophomore Bryce Craff to tie the game at 2-2. The final two runs were posted on a error on a fielders choice, scoring Weidman and Dakota Kron for a 4-2 advantage after three innings.

Washington junior Michael Ellingson padded the Demon lead in the bottom of the fourth, shooting an RBI single into the outfield, scoring pinch runner Jacob Hall from second base for a 5-2 lead.

Eddyville-Blakesburg responded in the top half of the fifth inning with an RBI single by Treg Van Dorin, cutting the deficit to 5-3. Van Dorin would score later on a passed ball to bring the score to 5-4 after five innings.

Washington recorded their final run of the evening in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Weidman on a wild pitch to take a 6-4 advantage.

The Rockets stormed back in the top half of the sixth. After opening the inning with a routine ground out to third base, Washington committed back to back errors and hit the ensuing batter to load the bases. A Bracken Taylor fielders choice plated one batter, cutting the lead to 6-5. Van Dorin connected on a single, pushing two runs to take an 7-6 advantage.

Washington had Weidman on second base in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn’t capitalize as the Demons fell 7-6.

The Demon baseball team returns to the diamond in Tiffin this evening, battling the Clear Creek-Amana Clippers in a single non-conference game. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. at Clear Creek Amana High School.