The Sydney Blue Sox bounced back from a crushing 6-0 loss on Thursday to beat the Auckland Tuatara twice in Saturday's doubleheader.
Then northeast division leaders, who also hold the best record in the Australian Baseball League, edged the Auckland franchise 4-2 in the opening game on the back of an outstanding start from pitcher Craig Anderson.
Anderson struck out five Tuatara hitters, going five innings with two earned runs against.
Sydney's ace needed to be good with Tuatara's former big-league starter Josh Collmenter pitching five strong innings, striking out four in the process.
Outfielder Max Brown struck his fourth home run of the season in the losing effort.
The evening game was an even tighter affair, with the pitchers really dominating the bat.
Ex-Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Scott Richmond showed his class with a superb performance across six and two-third innings for the Tuatara. He gave up one earned run, while striking out four.
Te Wera Bishop drove in Brown in the seventh inning to level the scores at 1-1, and it stayed that way into the ninth.
The Tuatara had a lead-off double from the rangy Brown but they couldn't get him home, the Blue Sox taking advantage.
In the bottom of the ninth, a one-out walk-off single from Max Brennen brought home the winning run for the home side.
Left-arm reliever Scott Cone took the loss for the Tuatara.
The sides meet in a series finale on Sunday afternoon.
Newshub.