UNION CITY — A little two-out magic helped the Youngsville Eagles continue an unblemished start to the 2023 season.

The Eagles (5-0) scored four runs with two outs in the top of the fifth inning and held off a late Union City rally during a 7-5 victory Wednesday at Union City High School.

“Ethan (Senz) and Wyatt (Dalrymple) both stepped up big time at the bottom of the order today,” said Youngsville coach Eddie Dorunda. “David (Manning) threw the ball well and got tired there at the end, but he was able to get the job done.”

Youngsville was able to crack the scoreboard first, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. James Johnson singled to start the game and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Nathan Lucks.

Union City answered back in a big way in the bottom of the first, starting the game with three straight hits and ultimately scoring three runs to take a 3-1 lead into the second inning.

That score held until the third inning when Youngsville was able to cut the lead in half at 3-2. Talon Mesel led off the inning with a single and stole second before advancing to third on an overthrow. Johnson followed with a hard hit ball to shortstop. The throw home was late and Mesel was able to score and make it a one-run game.

The Eagles’ breakthrough inning came in the top of the fifth, though it didn’t look like anything special early on.

Dalrymple singled in between a pair of strikeouts, but Senz was able to lay down a perfect bunt with two outs and beat the throw to first. Johnson was up next and blooped a single in between the right and center fielders to score both Dalrymple and Senz, giving Youngsville the lead for good at 4-3.

Not yet satisfied, Youngsville added a fifth run on an RBI double from Matt DeSimone and a sixth on an RBI hit from Lucks.

An insurance run was added in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI bunt single from Senz.

It was almost extremely important.

Manning issued a walk to start the seventh and Union City cut the lead to 7-4 on an RBI triple from Lucas Doutt. After a flyout for the first out of the bottom of the seventh, Doutt was brought home on a sacrifice fly that made it 7-5.

With two outs, the Bears connected on back-to-back singles to bring the potential winning run to the plate. However, Manning got the batter to fly out to DeSimone in center to end the game.

Manning pitched a complete game, allowing four earned runs on nine hits. He struck out seven and walked just one. Johnson continued his torrid pace to start 2023 with three hits and Senz, Dalrymple and Lucks added two hits each.

Youngsville will try to make it 6-for-6 on Friday when it hosts the Rocky Grove Orioles at Davis Street Field in Youngsville.

WARREN FALLS AT MCLANE

EDINBORO — Three unearned runs helped push General McLane past Warren, 6-4, on Wednesday in a Region 5 baseball game at General McLane.

The Dragons and Lancers each scored two runs in the first inning, and Warren took a 3-2 lead in the third before trouble in the bottom of the fourth.

“All three runs in the fourth were unearned,” said Warren coach Andrew Morrison. “We missed a ground ball, and let a runner reach on a strikeout. … We threw a pick-off play away, too; that was a set play that was my call, so that one is on me.”

Trailing 6-3 in the seventh, the Dragons added a run, but fell to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the region.

“Our at-bats were not up to the standard we want today,” said Morrison. “We let a lot of fastball strikes past us that put us in tough counts. We left two guys on in the sixth and one in the seventh, (so) we had opportunities.”

Ben Sowa was 3-for-3 with three runs scored from the leadoff spot. Brady Berdine was 2-for-3, and Eric Dippold had a hit and two RBIs for the Dragons.

“Ben Sowa had a great game again, getting on base all four times,” said Morrison. “He is doing a great job in every phase right now.

“Credit to GM (3-0); they had the timely hits and only walked us once,” added Morrison. “They did a good job of putting the ball in play and making Brady (Berdine) work.”

Berdine started and worked 5.1 innings, allowing six hits, three walks, and two hit batters while striking out six. Only three of the six runs he allowed were earned.

“We have to bounce back quickly and get ready for Corry Friday,” said Morrison. “They are the closest thing we get to a geographical rival. It’s a region game, too. We will be ready to go.”

KNIGHTS WIN AT ROCKY GROVE

FRANKLIN — Eisenhower hit the road to Rocky Grove and it was worth the trip as the Knights earned their first win of the season, downing the Orioles 5-4.

It was a tense seventh inning as the Orioles had the bases loaded with two outs and down by a run when Eisenhower second baseman Johnny Palmieri made a nice play on a hard hit ball and flipped it to his first baseman to clinch the win.

Kael Hunt went the distance on the hill, allowing nine hits, four runs, and striking out five.

The Knights were led offensively by Cole Kellogg who had two hits, drew a walk and had an RBI; Hunt was 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI; and Camron Jakubczack, Childs and Aaden Nichols also had RBIs.

“It was a hard-fought game by both teams,” Eisenhower coach Clinton Corse said. “Rocky Grove is always tough. Our boys never gave up and I’m proud of the way they have been playing lately.

“I thought Garrett Jensen called a great game at catcher for us and Hunt just threw a beautiful game. I have to give a shoutout to senior Brok English. He was our vocal leader today, and that last put out by Palmieri was just a heck of a play.”

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Jon Sitler and Steve Younger contributed to this report.