The Iowa Central baseball team found themselves in a hole here late Saturday vs. Dakota County.

But patient at-bats and timely hitting lifted the 20th-ranked Tritons to a come-from-behind 7-4 victory in their 2021 home opener at Ed Barbour Field.

Max Holy and Ben DeTaeye each connected on two-RBI singles in a four-run eighth to help Iowa Central overcome a 4-2 deficit. DeTaeye was 3-for-5 on the day while Holy had two hits. 

Gavin Baker added a solo home run and Nate Mortimer a two-RBI hit in support of John Klein and Easton Dermody on the mound.

"We got it done there when we needed to," Iowa Central head coach Eric Stein said. "In the eighth, we were able to string things together and moved runners. We had a couple chances early on to do that and we didn't make it happen."

Klein got the start, throwing seven innings with eight strikeouts, three hits allowed and four walks. Dermody came on in the eighth, striking out four with one hit allowed. 

"We always know what we are going to get from John," Stein said. "He's a competitor, and probably the most competitive person on our team. He pitched great, just got a little tired there late. 

"Dermody came on and, outside of the home run he allowed, was lights-out."

Gavin Baker, who had a home run, also had two hits on the afternoon with Jack Sievers recording a hit and scoring a run. Derek Kay and Ryan Garlic each scored runs.

"We really did a lot of good things in the eighth," Stein said. "Garlic came on and was effective, and both Holy and DeTaeye had big hits."

Klein, who was named NJCAA Pitcher of the Week recently, struck out the first three batters he faced and had six strikeouts in the first three innings. Dakota County was able to plate three in the seventh off two hits, a walk and a hit batter. 

Dermody struck out the final three batters he faced in the ninth. 

After playing games in Kansas, Tennessee, Illinois and Missouri to start the year, Stein was happy to be home playing in front of fans again. The Tritons had their 2020 season cut short due to COVID-19 after starting 7-1.

"It was great," Stein said. "We had a tremendous turnout and were able to give them something positive to go home on."

Iowa Central is scheduled to begin the ICCAC slate on Wednesday in Mason City vs. North Iowa Area before returning home to host Marshalltown this coming weekend for four games. 

-By Dana Becker