The Austin Greyhounds used some clutch pitching, timely base running and a big hit to beat the Joliet, Ill. Dirtbags 2-1 in the opening round of the SpamTown Challenge in Marcusen Park Friday.

John Frein came up with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh, he stole second base and he scored from second on an infield single by Nels Nelson to end the game.

Frein was running from second to third on the pitch to Nelson and that helped him get in position to score the winning run.

“I saw it in the zone, I just went and I figured Nelly would get a piece of it because he’s got a pretty reliable bat,” Frein said. “I saw it get by the pitcher and then it was a run.”

The Hounds (6-2 overall) managed just five hits, but their pitchers stepped up. Alex Kasak allowed just one run in four and two thirds innings and Grant Oldenberg was able to pitch out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh and a jam where the Dirtbags had two runners on in the fifth.

“Kasak pitched awesome and everyone stepped up for us,” Frein said. “The game easily could’ve been Joliet’s W. Now we have a 1-0 start and we have high expectations.”

Gabe Kasak was able to catch for his older brother in the win for the Hounds and he’s also starting to develop as a team leader. With a young starting lineup on Thursday for the Hounds, Kasak, a 20-year old who has played for the Hounds for five years, was one of the more experienced players on the field.

“They’ve been quiet. But that’s how I was when I started,” Kasak said. “You’re just taking it in and you don’t really need to talk. They’re learning and they’re going to learn a lot from these veterans.”

The Hounds took an early 1-0 lead off a Matt Cano sacrifice fly in the first inning, but the Dirtbags came back to tie things up at 1-1 in the second. From that point, it was a grind-it-out contest until the Hounds came through in the seventh.

“It was a roller coaster ride at points, but a win is a win,” said Kasak. “We’ve been winning early and often this year and to win like this feels as good as it can.”

Joliet 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 7 1

Hounds 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 — 2 5 1

Hounds pitching: Alex Kasak, 4 2/4 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 2 K; Grant Oldenburg (W) 2 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 2 K

Hounds hitting: Henry Fleek, 0-for-2, BB; Dylan Gasner, 2-for-3, double, R; Tyler Leopold, 0-for-2, BB, SB; Matt Cano, 0-for-2, RBI; Jordan Hart, 0-for-3; Nik Gasner, 1-for-3; Gabe Kasak, 0-for-3; Daniel Bollingberg, 0-for-2; Alex Ciola, 0-for-1; Nels Nelson, 1-for-2, RBI; John Frein, 1-for-1, R, SB