PORTSMOUTH — Eugene Collins singled home the winning runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to cap off a 9-8 comeback win for the Notre Dame Titans over the Saint Joseph Flyers in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Tuesday.

Collins finished the game 2 for 6 at the plate with 2 RBIs, both of which came on his final hit of the game. Collins also came in relief in the third inning and pitched three and a third innings and gave up one earned run on 5 hits and struck out 7 batters.

The Titans’ final rally began when they got a one-out double from Coleman Shaffer and both Michael Hiles and Sawyer Rutman drew walks to load the bases.

Collins came to bat and battled to a full count. On the final pitch, Collins looped a hit into center and both Shaffer and Hiles came around to score the winning runs.

In total, the lead changed five times in the game. The Flyers stormed back in the top of the second to take their first lead of the game, using a combination of 3 walks, 2 hit batters, and a single from Carson Willis to build up a 6-3 lead.

But the Titans battled back over the next two innings to grab a 7-6 lead. The lead change came when Connor Estep scored on a ground ball from Carter Ingles in the bottom of the fourth.

Saint Joseph began to rally back in the top of the seventh, manufacturing a run to tie the game. Landon Rowe earned an infield single, then reached second on a stolen base. Then Beckham Waginger slapped a single into left center to bring Rowe around for the tie.

In the top of the eighth, the Flyers got singles from Willis and Ian Whaley with one out. Then Willis stole third and scored to give the Flyers a 8-7 lead after a throwing error down to third on the steal.

The Flyers nearly added to their lead when Carter Johnson hit a liner into left center, but Collins was able to track the ball down and end the last scoring threat for the Flyers. and set up the finish.

Waginger came on in relief in the fifth and closed out the game for the Flyers. Waginger allowed 3 hits, 2 runs and struck out two in three and a third innings of work.

Despite retiring 7 of his first 9 batters he faced, Waginger found himself in a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh but struck out Brody Coleman to send the game into extra innings.

Ethan Kingery picked up the win for the Titans after relieving Collins in the seventh.

Willis started for the Flyers and went 4 innings. He struck out 6 batters, but gave up 6 earned runs in the no decision.

St. Joseph 150 000 11 = 8 8 1

Notre Dame 312 100 02 = 9 13 1

Carson Willis, Beckham Waginger (5) and Evan Aldridge. Connor Estep, Bryce McGraw (2), Eugene Collins (3), Ethan Kingery (7) and Carter Ingles. W-Kingery (IP-1.1, H-2, R-1, ER-0, K-2, BB-0). Estep (IP-1.0, H-0, R-4, ER-4, K-2, BB-5) McGraw. (IP-1.0, H-1, R-2, R-2, ER-2, K-2, BB-1, WP-1), Collins (IP-4.2, H-5, R-1, ER-1, K-7, BB-3). L-Waginger (IP-3.1, H-3, R-2, ER-2, K-2, BB-7). Willis (IP-4.0, H-10, R-7, ER-6, K-6, BB-2). Hitting-St. Joseph: Landon Rowe 1-4, Beckham Waginger 1-3 2-RBI, Evan Aldridge 1-5, Wesley Neal 2-3 RBI, Carson Willis 2-4 3-RBI, Ian Whaley 1-4; Coal Grove: Eugene Collins 2-6 2-RBI, Bryce McGraw 2-3 2-RBI, Luke Cassidy 1-3 RBI, Ethan Kingery.1-4 RBI, Brody Coleman 1-4, Connor Estep 1-3 RBI, Coleman Shaffer 3-4 2B, Carter Ingles 1-4 RBI, Sawyer Rutman 1-4.