By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — In a “must win” game, the St. Joseph Flyers mustered up a win.

The Flyers scored 3 runs over the last 2 innings and beat the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 8-5 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Wednesday to stay in the hunt for the SOC title.

“Brown got sharper each inning. He had trouble early with his curveball but he got that fixed and kept them off-balance,” said Flyers’ coach Greg Bryant. “We came up with some clutch hits but we still left 13 runners on base. But that was a good win and a big win.”

Notre Dame (4-4, 4-2) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Eugene Collins, walked, stole second and scored on a hit by Myles Phillips.

The Flyers (6-1, 3-1) came back to take a 2-1 lead in the second.

Carson Lyons was safe on an error, Brady “Quinn” Medinger singled and Jake Stephens and Darren “Hitman” Harvey walked to force in a run and Mason Weber singled in the second run.

But Notre Dame answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning.

Coleman Shaffer drew a one-out walk, Mike Hines singled, Landon Barbarits walked and Collins had a 2-run single.

St. Joseph came back and went up 4-3 in the top of the third.

Drew Brown walked, stole second, took third on the throwing error and scored on Carson Lyons sacrifice fly. Medinger singled, stole second and third and scored on a throwing error.

Again, the Titans got a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 4-all.

Luke Cassidy singled, took a second on an errant pickoff attempt and scored on Brody Coleman’s base hit.

The Flyers took the lead for good in the sixth as Hitman Harvey and Rowe were each hit by pitches. Pinch-runner Eli Whaley and Rowe moved up on Weber’s fly out, Balestra reached on a dropped third strike, Brown walked to force home a run and Lyons grounded out as Rowe scored.

The Titans got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Kingrey walked, Coleman singled, Hines walked and Barbarits had an RBI single.

The Flyers got 2 insurance runs in the seventh.

Neal singled, Willis walked and Mason Weber singled to load the bases. Balestra was his usual clutch self as singled home 2 runs.

Brown retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning to preserve the win  and get revenge from their last meeting.

Brown got the win with 4 innings of relief work. He gave up just 2 hits, one earned run, fanned 3 and walked 3. Carson Willis started and worked 3 innings giving up 5 hits, 4 runs with 3 earned, and he had 4 strikeouts with 3 walks.

Kingrey took the loss in relief of Bryce McGraw.

The Flyers had 9 hits with Weber 2-4 and an RBI, Balestra 2-5 with 2 RBI, Medinger 2-5, Stephens 1-3, Rowe 1-4, Lyons had 2 RBI and Brown an RBI.

Coleman was 2-3 with an RBI to pace Notre Dame. Collins was 1-3 with 2 Rbi, Hines 1-2, Barbarits 1-3 with an RBI, Phillips 1-4 with an RBI and Cassidy 1-4.

The Flyers play at New Boston on Thursday and play Meigs Eastern at noon on Saturday at Coal Grove.

St. Joseph 022 002 2 = 8 9 1

Notre Dame 121 001 0 = 5 7 3

Carson Willis, Drew Brown (4) and Jake Stephens. Ethan Kingrey, Bryce McGraw (4), Eugene Collins (7) and Landon Babarits. W-Brown (IP-4.0, H-2, R-1, ER-1, K-3, BB-3). Willis (IP-3.0, H-5, R-4, ER-3, K-4, BB-3, WP-1). L-Kingrey (IP-3.2, H-2, R-4, ER-4, K-9, BB-3, WP-1, HBP-2). McGraw (IP-2.1, H-5, $-4, ER-2, K-2, BB-3). Collins IP-1.0, H-2, R-0, K-1, BB-1). Hitting-St. Joseph: London Rowe 1-4, Mason Weber 2-4 RBI, Evan Balestra 2-5 2-RBI, Drew Brown RBI, Carson Lyons 2-RBI, Brady “Quinn” Medinger 2-5, Jake Stephens 1-3; Portsmouth Notre Dame: : Landon Barbarits 1-3 RBI, Eugene Collins 1-3 2-RBI, Luke Cassidy 1-4, Myles Phillips 1-4 RBI, Brody Coleman 2-3 RBI, Mike Hines 1-2.