Times Observer photos by Steve Younger Eisenhower’s Wes Wilcox tags out an Iroquois runner attempting to steal third base during Monday’s Region 4 baseball game in Russell.

RUSSELL — The Eisenhower Knights took a 1-1 tie into the seventh inning before falling to the Iroquois Braves 5-1 in Region 4 baseball on Mondaya.

The Braves jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Strong pitching by Mike Palmieri and stingy Knights defense kept the game close until they were able to push a run across the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning when Josh Pikna singled to drive in Ben Lindberg to knot the game at 1-1.

The Braves regained their lead by scoring four runs in the top of the seventh on three singles to take a 5-1 lead.

The Knights were not able to generate any runs in their half of the inning and fell to the Braves.

For Eisenhower, Palmieri pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing only a single earned run. Wyatt Neall came on in relief and got the other two outs, allowing two earned runs.

Eisenhower was led by Neall at the plate as he went 2 for 4 on the day. Lindberg, Pikna and Palmieri each reached base twice.

The Knights fell to 1-12 overall and 1-4 in the region while Iroquois improved to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the region.