Early rust too much to overcome

With two outs in the top of the seventh inning and the Hawks trailing 5-1, Colton Baughn and Ben Nelson reached on back-to-back walks.

However, Putnam starter Austin Hayes induced a game-deciding groundout to end the game.

Hayes scattered six hits, walked three and struck out eight TD batters.

Dalles Seufalemua was 1 for 2 with a walk, Hajicek added a hit and a run scored in four at-bats, and Michael Armstrong went 1 for 3 with an RBI.

Dominic Smith, Conner Baughn and Austin Greene tacked on a hit apiece on nine combined at-bats.

On the mound, Smith surrendered one run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in three innings and got the loss.