The Sigourney Savages won a tight baseball battle with Wilton Friday night, beating the Beavers 3-2 at Duane Banks Stadium on the campus of the University of the Iowa.

Both teams scored two runs in the first inning before the game became a even pitcher’s duel that would go to extra innings, but it would be Sigourney who pushed across the deciding run in the top of the eighth.

Senior Brady Clark and sophomore Lincoln Power had one hit and scored one run each for the Savages, but the real star of the night was pitcher Carver Russell.

The freshman threw the final five innings and allowed no runs on two hits and two walks. Russell also racked up six strikeouts as Sigourney, the second-ranked team in the state in Class 1A, improves to 19-1.

The Keota Eagles were also winners in softball Friday, knocking off conference rival BGM 3-2. The teams traded runs until Keota scored once in the bottom of the sixth to go in front for good. The victory raises the Eagles’ record to 9-6, including an 8-6 mark in the South Iowa Cedar League.

Keota baseball would not have the same luck, falling to BGM 7-2. Despite taking the initial lead with two runs in the second inning, the Eagles would see the Bears tie the game in the third and go in front with two more runs in the fifth.

A loss drops Keota to 5-9 in conference play and 6-9 overall. Both Eagle teams return to the diamond this evening against Iowa Valley, while Sigourney baseball also plays tonight at HLV after finishing a postponed game against Iowa Valley this afternoon.