HURON — The Huron Tigers baseball team opened the season with strong pitching, but defensive miscues led to two losses to the Brookings Bobcats Thursday at Klock Field.

The Bobcats took the first game 2-1.

Layne Wenzel got the start for the Tigers and did all he could to bring Huron a season-opening win, tossing five innings, allowing three hits and one unearned run while walking three and striking out four.

After a Tigers error led to a run for Brookings in the top of the first, Wenzel came to the plate with Trace Wenz at second base and singled to left field to knot the game 1-1.

He and Brookings starter Austin Clark both pitched in and out of trouble through the 5th inning before giving way to the bullpen.

Peyton Bischoff tossed the final two innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out one.

An errant throw on a stolen base attempt allowed Brookings to get an unearned run in top of the 6th inning, and Huron had a baserunner in both the 6th and 7th innings against Brookings reliever Nolan Miles but could not push a run across, falling 2-1.

Wenzel and Jack Pedersen were the only Tigers to reach base twice in the opener. Wenzel had a single and a walk, while Pedersen had a double and a walk. Bubba Peterson added a double at the plate.

A four-run fourth inning sealed the fate for the Tigers in the nightcap, as Brookings came away with a 7-5 victory and the sweep of the doubleheader.

Pedersen took the hill for the Tigers, and he was strong through three innings, with an error and a wild pitch bringing in two runs in the top of the first, but otherwise holding the Bobcats at bay.

In the third inning, Pedersen struggled with control, hitting a batter, walking two hitters, and only throwing 14 strikes out of 34 pitches in the inning, but two more errors also assisted the Bobcats’ outburst in the fourth.

Pederson’s line on the game was four innings, allowing six runs on six hits and five walks, striking out four. Carsen Evans came in and tossed two innings of relief, allowing an unearned run on a hit and three walks. Tommie Martin pitched a hitless final inning, walking one and striking out two.

The Huron offense was not done, however, as the Tigers rallied once starter Owen Schneider, who pitched four scoreless innings with five strikeouts, was relieved on the mound.

Evans walked, Pederson slapped an opposite-field single, Peterson walked, and Gabe Waldner lifted a fly ball to center field that was misplayed and resulted in two Tiger runs. Peterson would score on a throwing error by the catcher to bring the Tigers within 7-3 at the end of the 5th inning.

A slick double play prevented the Tigers from scoring more in the sixth as Logan Leyendecker led off the inning with a single but Jackson Mattke then hit a ball that the Brookings’’ second baseman made a strong play to grab, get second base, and then make the throw to first.

Huron then got a walk from Brady Feenstra, a double from Evans, and a two-run single for Pederson to come within 7-5. However, with two runners on base in the bottom of the 7th, the Tigers were caught in a stolen base attempt to end the game, giving Brookings the 7-5 victory.

Pederson reached base three times with a pair of singles and a walk. Evans had a double and a walk while Martin came off the bench to have a walk and hit by pitch. Waldner added a steal.

The Tigers travel to Yankton today for a makeup doubleheader that was originally scheduled for April 1.