Behind a strong pitching performance by Ryan McDaniel, the Lugnuts captured an 11-6 victory over the Bats on Sunday at Holcom.

The Houk League game ended when it reached the league’s two-hour time limit.

Bats player Marcus Ritter heads for the plate during a Houk League game against the Nuts on Saturday at Holcom. The Nuts won the game 11-6.

Despite being down for much of the game, the Bats never gave up, rallying for three runs in the final inning.

“It was pretty intense,” Lugnuts coach Chris Watkins said. “It was nice to get a win.”

The Bats had some success early against McDaniel. After Daniel Aul’s leadoff walk in the first inning, Alston Bergstrom singled to put two men on base for the Bats. Noland Lowe then reached on an error, bringing both runners home.

The Lugnuts tied the score in the bottom of the frame with Aaron Tilden and Joe Smith coming around to score. Lowe recovered nicely, though, striking out Jeremiah Risner to end the inning.

The Bats took the lead again in the top of the second inning when Brendon Clark reached on a fielding error and Marcus Ritter singled to bring him in.

Down 3-2, the Lugnuts’ bats came to life in the bottom half of the second.

After Nate Rosenbloom reached base on a walk, Tilden, Smith, Ryan Waller, McDaniel and Cody Janousek had consecutive hits, and five runs came around to score.

McDaniel cruised through the top of the third inning, retiring the Bats in order with some help from his defense.

Tilden made a tough stop on a ground ball off the bat of Cody Webb, taking his time and firing across the diamond to beat the runner by a step at first base. The next batter, Lowe, had a similar result to the other side of the infield, and this time it was Smith who fielded it cleanly and threw to first for the out. Centerfielder Mike Penny then caught Masten’s towering fly ball to end the frame.

The Lugnuts added three more runs in their half of the third. Tilden, Waller and McDaniel all scored, putting their team up 10-3.

With Aul on the mound in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Bats started to gain some momentum. The pitcher recorded two of the outs himself, one on a bunt attempt by Penny.

Rylan Thornton led off the fifth with a walk for the Bats. Bergstrom then lined a single to leftfield, the hardest-hit ball off McDaniel all afternoon. Bergstrom’s hit energized the Bats’ faithful with hopes of a late-innings rally.

After McDaniel issued a walk to Webb, Lugnuts coach Eric Neuteboom made a pitching change, bringing in Tilden from shortstop

The Bats did add two runs as Bergstrom and Webb came around to score, but Tilden struck out the last two batters to wrap up the inning.

Lugnuts players were in a good mood after the game, and even attempted to empty the contents of a water cooler over Neuteboom’s head. Neuteboom showed good agility, managing to sidestep the surprise attack.

A fired-up Janousek declared the team ready for the future.

“The Lugnuts rule, and we’re coming back,” Janousek said.