Jhawk Baseball Astro Dan Jasperson lays into a pitch in the first inning against the Orioles. Jasperson singled in the at-bat and drove in Tyler Hanson. Jasperson also struck out seven Oriole batters in four innings on the mound.

When Rusty Hoffhines stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning Thursday, his Astros were down to their last out, trailing the Orioles by one run with runners on first and second bases.

Hoffhines never swung the bat, however.

With Hoffhines at the plate, Tyler Hanson took off for third and Dan Jasperson for second.

A series of overthrows followed, allowing Hanson to score the tying run and Jasperson to motor all the way home to give the Astros a 5-4 victory in Parks and Recreation Jhawk League baseball.

“Run as fast as I could and don’t look at the ball,” Jasperson said. “That’s all I could think about.”

Not only did Jasperson score the winning run at Holcom Complex, he kept the Astros in the game with solid pitching, striking out seven in four innings.

In the first inning, Jasperson surrendered a leadoff single to Tyson Erwin but fanned the next two batters. Although Erwin eventually scored, Jasperson escaped further damage, getting out of a bases-loaded jam with his third strikeout of the inning.

“I didn’t pitch the last game, so I was eager to get out there,” Jasperson said.

Oriole Alex Holm jogs down the first base line after earning a walk in the second inning against the Astros. The Orioles and Astros played on Thursday at Holcom Sports Complex.

The Astros answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. Hanson led off with a double to center field and scored on a Jasperson single.

Jasperson held the Orioles scoreless in the second with a little help from his defense. With one on and one out, catcher Seth Holiday threw to Jamie Braden at second base to nail a would-be base stealer.

Some snazzy catching also helped Jasperson’s counterpart. Orioles starting pitcher Kyler Henricks faced the minimum in the bottom of the inning as catcher Garrett Zook gunned down an Astro trying to steal.

The Orioles regained the lead in the third only to have the Astros tie it again. A Henricks single to right drove in Ryan Schulties for the Orioles while the Astros counted their run on an infield single by Braden that scored Caleb Kilgore.

In the fourth, the Orioles’ Carlos Florez led off with a walk, stole second and third, then scored on an Alex Holm single. Moments later, Holm scored on a Zook double to give the Orioles a 4-2 cushion.

Stormy Mirtz went to the mound in the bottom of the inning after Henricks issued consecutive walks and promptly struck out the side.

The Astros made a pitching change in the next inning, bringing Brandon Reynolds in for Jasperson. Reynolds kept the game within reach, facing only four batters and striking out two.

“Brandon came in and did great,” Astros coach Brian Reynolds said. “I think a change in pitcher kind of kept them off balance.”

Carter Williams led off for the Astros in their last at-bat and worked a walk to start the decisive rally. Williams soon made it a one-run game, stealing his way around the bases.

“He’s probably got the highest on-base percentage on the team,” Reynolds said of Williams. “He’s got a little strike zone, he’s very patient and it always pays off.”

Hanson and Jasperson coaxed back-to-back walks to set the stage for the walk-off rally.

“Base running was the most important thing tonight,” Reynolds said. “That was definitely the biggest part of the game.”