Down by 1 run in the bottom of the 3rd, Nashua-Plainfield had a runner on base and needed something to pop.

That’s when Eli Kalainoff stepped up to the plate. Statistically he was just the right guy to drive in the tying run. Through the first six games of the season, the freshman outfielder was batting .529 with seven singles, two doubles and 6 RBIs. Turns out he had a bit more to offer.

Kalainoff unleashed a 2-run home run to put N-P in the lead. The round-tripper was the first of his varsity career, and it came off the same Osage pitcher that served up the first one of his his junior varsity career, according to N-P head coach Miller.

The Huskies (6-1) defeated Osage (5-4) on Friday by a 5-2 score. It was N-P’s third home victory in as many days, winning 7-0 over Saint Ansgar on Wednesday and 10-3 over Belmond-Klemme on Thursday,

Kalainoff finished the day with three hits and 4 RBIs. N-P’s senior first baseman, Landon Pratt, scored a run on a wild pitch.

Tucker Franzen pitched six innings to get the win, striking out five Green Devils along the way. He gave up five hits, 2 unearned runs and one base on balls. He hit two batters.

Nic Brase pitched a scoreless 7th inning, facing four batters to seal the win.

A fielding error helped Osage tie the game in the 4th inning, but that was short-lived. Pratt gave N-P a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning. He got on base by sending a sharp ground ball down the third base line. The Huskies football team lineman stole second when the catcher’s throw slipped under the covering fielder’s glove. Kendrick Huck took first on a walk, and then Pratt gained third on an infield single by Kaden Wilken. On that play the paths of the grounder, Pratt and the third baseman crossed a few yards away from the bag. Osage could not make a play.

Two outs later, Kalainoff was up to bat and when a pitch sailed past the Osage catcher to the backstop, Miller sent Pratt racing home. He dove head first to get under the tag.

Kalainoff went on to hit a 2-run single, giving N-P a 5-2 cushion.

UP NEXT — The Huskies have the weekend off. They will host North Butler (4-3) Monday for a 6 p.m. game.