LINCOLN — Beatrice’s Exmark American Legion Seniors opened play Friday in the Mike Peterson Tournament in Lincoln by splitting a pair of games.

The team will return to action in the Peterson Tournament today (Saturday), facing Lincoln Pius at 9:30 a.m. and Omaha Gross at noon. Both games will be played at Densmore Field.

In their opener, Beatrice defeated Lincoln Sampson Construction, 2-1.

Beatrice coach Paul Valentine said good defense and pitching helped the team’s effort in the contest.

James Rivers earned the complete-game win for Beatrice, giving up one earned run on two hits, four walks and two hit batters. He struck out nine. “Rivers did a good job,” Valentine said.

Valentine said Rivers pitched out of trouble in the final inning.

With Beatrice leading 2-1, Rivers walked the first Sampson batter in the seventh. A double play off a ground ball and then a strikeout ended any threat of a comeback.

Beatrice’s defense played error-free ball behind Rivers, Valentine said.

Beatrice took the lead in the game in the second inning as Rivers singled and scored on a single by Tommy Luers.

Sampson tied the game at 1 in the third inning.

In the sixth inning, Beatrice scored the game-winning run.

Justin Wittler walked, advanced to third on a single by Rivers and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kory Diekman.

Rivers led the Beatrice offense with three singles, Schroeder, Justin Coleman and Luers added a basehit each.

In their second game, Beatrice fell to North Platte, 5-2.

“It was a game of missed opportunities,” Valentine said. “We had opportunities to score, but we couldn’t get the key hit with runners on base.”

After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning, Beatrice rallied to score two runs in their half of the inning.

Schroeder singled, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Wittler.

A double by Rivers scored Wittler, making it a 2-all contest.

North Platte was able to add one run in the third inning, one in the fourth and one in the sixth.

Schroeder led the Beatrice offense with three singles, while Rivers had a double and single, Sam Busboom and Diekman had two singles each and Wittler added a single.

Diekman took the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks, while striking out six.

Earlier in the week, the Beatrice Seniors earned a 7-6 road win at Nebraska City.

Coleman earned the complete-game win for Beatrice, allowing six runs, five earned, on six hits and four walks. He struck out eight.

Wittler had the big hit for Beatrice with a home run, while Schroeder had a double and single, Busboom had a double and Coleman, Rivers, Diekman, Phil McClure, Luers, Ryan Poling and Eric Hackler each singled.