Austin Greyhounds second baseman Joe Kroc relays the throw after getting the lead out on the Blue Sox Brandon Rector in the first inning Friday night at Marcusen Park. — Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

In a night that was dominated by pitchers, the Austin Greyhounds had a little more than the Austin Blue Sox as they walked away with an 8-1 win in Marcusen Park Friday.

Austin Blue Sox catcher John Kirby chases Greyhounds runner Dave Adams in a second-inning rundown Friday night at Marcusen Park.

Zach Schara came on in relief for the Hounds (12-5 overall) and the game tied 1-1 in the fifth and slammed the door shut us he struck out eight and didn’t allow a hit or walk in five innings of work.

“He was lights out tonight,” Blue Sox manager Jamey Pratt said. “He was pretty sharp.”

Schara sat out Wednesday’s game to rest a strained leg, but he showed no signs of weakness as he mowed through the Blue Sox lineup.

“This is the best I’ve thrown since last season,” Schara said.

The Hounds took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth when Matt Cano doubled in a run and then made it 3-1 in the seventh when the Blue Sox (10-9 overall) committed two straight errors.

None of the Hounds’ eight runs were earned on the night as the Blue Sox committed six errors. Blue Sox pitcher Brady Banse allowed just five hits in seven innings while striking out 11, but took the loss.

“You’re not going to win too many games when you give them six outs,” Pratt said. “Brady’s been pitching quite a bit in La Crosse and he got stronger as the game went on tonight. We’ve got to make some plays.”

The Hounds made just one error in a game that was close until the eighth inning.

The Austin Greyhounds’ Jeremy Williams slides safely into third ahead of the tag of Blue Sox third baseman DJ Taylor Friday night at Marcusen Park.

“Our team tends to step it up a notch in close games,” Schara said.

Blue Sox 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 2 6

Hounds 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 X — 8 6 1

Hounds pitching: Weston Hansen, 4 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 6 K, 1 HBP; Zach Schara (W), 5 IP, 0 R, 8 K, 1 HBP

Hounds hitting: Andy Swank, 1-for-5, double, RBI; Jeremy Williams, 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 SB, 1 HBP; Dave Adams, 1-for-4, BB; Matt Raso, 0-for-4; Matt Cano, 2-for-4, double, RBI; Tyler Leopold, 0-for-1, 2 BB, SB; Jordan Hart, 0-for-4, R; Joe Kroc, 0-for-3, R, BB; John Frein, 1-for-4, double, RBI, R; Tommy Olmsted, 1-for-1, RBI; Zach Huntley, 0-for-1

Blue Sox pitching: Brady Banse (L), 7 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 R, 0 ER, 11 K, 1 HBP; Adam Hemann, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 R, 0 ER, 1 K

Blue Sox hitting: Brandon Rector, 0-for-4; Jamie Adams, 0-for-4; John Kirby, 0-for-3, BB; Josh Kunze, 0-for-3, BB; DJ Taylor, 1-for-4; Nate Wilson, 1-for-3, double, R, HBP; Brady Klingfus, 0-for-1, 2 HBP; Carter Guthmiller, 0-for-2, RBI, BB; Preston Higbe, 0-for-3