FRUITPORT – Everyone knows that the Fruitport baseball team has star pitcher junior Ryan Bosch, a junior who is already committed to Wake Forest University.

But on Tuesday, the Trojans showed they have more than one capable pitcher as they defeated O-K Blue conference opponent Hamilton 6-1 in Game 1 and tied the nightcap 4-4 before darkness postponed the finish.

The two teams will meet again at Hamilton on Thursday, where they will complete Game 2 before playing a single contest.

In Game 1, sophomore Trevor Rusnak took the mound for the Trojans, tossing six innings while allowing only one earned run on two hits with five strikeouts.

“Trevor pitched well,” said Fruitport head coach Nick Reed about the sophomore’s performance. “He kept us in the game and kept them off balance. He battled with strikes. He’s not our number one, but he would be a number one on any other team in the area.”

At the plate, Jax Flynn had two walks while scoring one run for the Trojans. Bosch and Tommy Anderson each added one hit while Bosch and Christian Kennedy each had one RBI.

In Game 2, the Trojans trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning before an RBI single from Avery Lambers scored Brady French to make the score 2-1.

During the next at bat, Braxton Ward stole home to tie the game at 2-2.

After falling behind 4-2, Fruitport responded in the bottom of the fifth to get the tie and force extra innings on Thursday.

Ward and Logan Webb each scored on wild pitches to tie the game at 4-4.

“I think it’s a huge confidence booster,” Reed said about his team fighting back in Game 2. “We didn’t give up and had opportunities. They didn’t quit or think they were ever out of it. We stayed positive the entire time.”

The Trojans should be in good shape in the third game on Thursday with Bosch taking the mound.

“He’ll start Thursday and hopefully give us a good chance to take three from them,” Reed said about Bosch. “That’s huge. Getting the first win is always huge and I think any of our top five arms give us a chance to win any night in this conference. But to get the first one without Ryan on the mound is big.”

Reed said the opening night games demonstrated his team’s resolve.

“They play hard,” the coach said. “We had a couple at bats in Game 1 where we were down 0-2 in the count and got walks. Even though we didn’t put good swings on the ball, we fought to get on base and create chaos. I’m happy for that and I think we can be really good offensively.”