STEUBENVILLE – The Brooke baseball team took advantage of what Big Red gave it.

Brooke scored two runs on bases-loaded walks, two on errors and another on a passed ball en route to defeating Big Red, 6-4, on a chilly Thursday evening up at the Crimson Complex.

“Walks and errors, that’s the whole answer,” first-year Big Red (12-6) head coach Justin Banks said. “You cannot spot a team four runs in the first inning and expect to win.”

The Bruins only had one RBI on a hit, and the Green-and-Gold tallied only three hits – two of which came in the seventh – in the game.

“We did take advantage of some things,” Brooke (11-17-1) head coach Dug Costain said. “We manufactured some runs. We ran the bases. We stole some bases. We scored on a delayed steal of home. It was a great read by Andrew Murdock. We talked about it. We looked at it. Andrew showed why he is one of the best players in the OVAC. He’s smart. He understands the game.

“He pitched a gem. He pitched a great game, and we made the plays behind him. We made some great plays. Gino Provenzano was diving all over the field.

“We had some timely hits. We didn’t have quantity, but we had quality.”

Big Red outhit Brooke, 10-3, in the game. Big Red delivered the lone extra-base hit on the day – a double.

Murdock went the distance on the mound to record the win for Brooke. Murdock recorded nine strikeouts while only walking one. The senior standout was able to pitch himself out of harm’s way on multiple occasions.

“We looked out there, and the bases were loaded,” Costain said. “We were in a tough situation, and he was able to get out of it whether it was on a groundball or on a strikeout.”

Big Red used two pitchers on the day. Noah Kokiko started on the mound for Big Red, and he took the loss. Kokiko struck out six while walking seven in his five innings of work.

“He settled down after the first inning,” Banks said. “He only gave up one hit. Errors and walks killed us. He threw very well after the first inning.”

Kokiko was replaced to start the sixth by Nick Lovato. Lovato struck out four without walking a batter in his two innings of relief.

“Lovato came on in relief,” Banks said. “He threw very well. He kept us in the game. Nicky did a great job.”

Big Red committed five errors in the loss. Brooke committed one.

Brooke struck first with four runs in the first on just one hit. The boys from Brooke County took advantage of four walks and two errors by the home team to take the early lead.

Ty Sperringer led off the game with a single to center and moved up to second when Zac O’Mery reached on an error. After a flyout, Sperringer scored on a passed ball to put the Bruins on the scoreboard. The next four batters all drew walks resulting in a pair of runners crossing the plate to make it 3-0 before another error led to another run to give the visitors a 4-0 advantage. Brooke sent nine batters to the plate in the first.

Big Red answered right back in the home half of the inning. Royal Mayo led off the half inning with a single, and the shortstop advanced to second on a passed ball. Then with two outs, Rocco Nocera singled to center scoring Mayo to make the score, 4-1. Karson Simmons was walked and Nolan Blackburn was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Matt Fabbro followed with a single to left scoring Nocera and Simmons cutting Big Red’s deficit down to 4-3, however, Blackburn was out trying to advance to third on the play bringing a long first inning to an end.

Neither team was able to score in the second.

Sperringer led off the top of the second and was hit by a pitch, however, the next three batters were retired in order to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Chase Beall was hit by a pitch with one out to give Big Red a baserunner, however, he was out at second on a fielder’s choice. Mayo, who reached on the fielder’s choice, stole second to move into scoring position, however, a strikeout also ended Big Red’s half of the inning.

AJ Borsch belted a double to left to start the third for the boys in black, however, he was stranded thanks to a pop-up, a groundout and a strikeout.

Sperringer reached for the third time in the game as he drew a walk with two outs in the fourth. He then stole second, but was stranded thanks to a flyout to left.

The victors increased their lead in the fifth.

Murdock walked to lead off the inning, stole second and advance to third on an errant throw. After a strikeout, Aidan Lathem walked to put runners on the corners. Blake Bennett, who came into run for Lathem, stole second to give Brooke a pair of runners in scoring position. With Brody Drumm at the plate, Murdock attempted a delayed steal of home, and he was safe when the throw back to the plate was offline giving the Bruins a 5-3 lead. Bennett moved up to third on the play, but a groundout ended the inning.

Big Red attempted to battle back in the bottom of the inning. Mayo singled to start the inning, however, he was picked off for the first out. Following a groundout, Borsch, Nocera and Karson Simmons all singled to load the bases, however, Murdock recorded a strikeout to escape the inning unscathed.

After Lovato struck out the side in the top of the sixth, Fabbro reached on an error to begin the bottom of the inning. He moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mason Chmerloski, and he scored on a single by pinch-hitter Jonathan Wineman to pull Big Red back to within a run at 5-4. Mayo reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on a single to left by Cole Bowers, however, he was stranded there thanks to a pop-up.

“We are still hitting the ball very well,” Banks said. “We left a lot stranded today. We had the walks, the errors and I don’t know how many runners we stranded on base. You cannot do that and win a game.”

Brooke extended their advantage in the seventh.

Zac O’Mery singled to start the inning, and he attempted to steal second, however, the throw to the base was off target allowing O’Mery to race around to third. Then, Murdock singled to center scoring O’Mery to give the boys in green a 6-4 lead. The pitcher then stole second and moved to third on a groundout. Bennett was hit by a pitch putting runners on the corners, however, a flyout and strikeout ended the threat.

Trailing by two runs, the hosts were down to their last chance, however, they were unable to extend the game as Big Red was retired in order on two strikeouts and a pop-up to the catcher.

For Brooke, Aiden Provenzano and Brody Drumm delivered RBI on back-to-back walks with the bases loaded in the first.

The victory enabled Brooke to earn a split in the season series. Big Red defeated the Bruins, 16-9, in a marathon affair April 14 at Brooke.

“I wasn’t there,” Costain said. “I was out of town due to a work commitment. I made the joke afterward the only difference was that I wasn’t there the first time. The first game was a slugfest. It was 10-9 in the seventh. I was following it on GameChanger. Then, they scored some more runs. It was definitely a different game.

“Hats off to Steubenville. They played a good game. They are a good baseball team.”

Big Red is scheduled to play No. 1 seed Morgantown in the OVAC Class 5A Tournament Final at 5 p.m. today out at Mazeroski Field. Big Red is the No. 3 seed in the tournament.

“We have to have a short memory,” Banks said. “I’m looking at them right now. Morgantown is a good team. We can’t play like we have the last two days. We have to come out fast. We have to be ready to go. We have to jump on them early.”

Brooke is slated to play in a Buckeye 8 game May 6 at home against an opponent to be announced.

“We are going to give them the weekend off,” Costain said. “As you know, we have played every night. We played two last night. We are going to give them tomorrow off along with Saturday and Sunday. We are going to come back Monday. We are going work on Monday and Tuesday and get ready for Wednesday.”

Brooke has picked up games against Monroe Central May 12 and Shenandoah May 14. Both games will be at Brooke.

“I challenged our kids to stay the course,” Costain said. “We have played a really tough schedule, but our goals are still ahead of us. We start regionals May 18.”

Brooke 6, Big Red 4

Brooke 400 010 1 – 6 3 1

Big Red 300 001 0 – 4 10 5

BROOKE (11-17-1): Murdock WP (9K, 1BB) and A. Provenzano. T. Sperringer S; O’Mery S; Murdock S, RBI; A. Provenzano RBI; Drumm RBI.

BIG RED (12-6): Kokiko LP (5IP, 6K, 7BB), Lovato (2IP, 4K, 0BB) and Simmons. Mayo 2S; Bowers S; Borsch S, D; Nocera 2S, RBI; Simmons S; Fabbro S, 2RBI; Wineman S, RBI.