FALLS CITY, NE - In a battle between the Nodaway Valley Thunder and Falls City Tigers, it was Nodaway Valley who ran away with it late as they improved to 6-5 on the season with an 18-3 win on Monday.

Both teams got off to hot starts as the Thunder scored two runs in the top of the first thanks to three walks and two balks from Tigers starting pitcher Bowdy Jones. Falls City responded with two runs of their own as Orion Cattrell, Aidan Willman and Blakely Sells all singled in the bottom of the first.

After a scoreless second inning for both sides, the Thunder pushed three runs across in the top of the third as they pounded out four hits in the inning, the big blow coming from a 2-run double from Jon Smock. Falls City pushed a run across in the bottom of the third to make it 5-3.

Nodaway Valley didn’t let the Tigers draw any closer, as the Thunder added a run in fourth and fifth, three in the sixth and eight runs in the seventh en route to an 18-3 win.

The Thunder finished with 17 hits on the afternoon and one error, while Falls City had seven hits and committed two errors. Tye Hoyt went six innings on the mound for Nodaway Valley and allowed two runs while striking out eight and only issued two walks. Lane Larabee, Cooper Snodderly and Garrett Carpenter each had three hits for the Thunder in the win. Cattrell and Sells had two hits a piece to lead the way for the Tigers.

Nodaway Valley improved to 6-5 while Falls City dropped to 2-10. Both teams will be back in action Thursday as the Thunder take on South Holt and the Tigers host Auburn.