Through the first three innings Monday between the United South Central baseball team and New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva at Thompson Park in Wells the rivalry continued to live up to its billing, but in the end Rebels’ head coach Pat Frank’s favorite saying “10 hits and you win” finally held true for USC in a 9-4 victory.

With three lead changes through the first three innings this one seemed like another marvelous matchup between USC and NRHEG, but Dustin Dylla’s two-run double in the third gave the Rebels a 5-4 lead and momentum through the rest of the game.

Dylla finished 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, while starter Nick Fure settled in on the mound to pick up his second victory of the season as the Rebels cranked out 12 hits and rebounded from a disastrous fielding effort against Blue Earth Friday in Wells.

“It seems like we always play New Richland and it doesn’t matter what records are just because they’re always good ballgames and this was a good ballgame, too,” Frank said.

Last season the two teams split the regular season meetings, but USC won the third meeting 5-2 in the first round of the section playoffs in a similarly played game.

The Panthers (2-6, 2-1 Gopher) took a 2-0 lead after the first inning, but the Rebels (6-3, 4-1 Gopher) got a run back in the frame and took the lead in the bottom of the second with two runs.

In the top of the third NRHEG scored twice to take a 4-3 lead, but in the bottom half Dylla connected for a two-run double.

USC went on to add four runs in the fifth as Fure finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Zach Wigern 2-for-2, and Riley Swearingen 2-for-3.

“There’s a better attitude with the kids tonight,” Frank said.

Fure struck out nine and walked just two while scattering seven hits in seven innings of work.

The Rebels face St. Clair Tuesday in St. Clair and the Panthers play Blooming Prairie in New Richland Tuesday.

USC 9, NRHEG 4

NRHEG 202 000 0 — 4 7 1

USC 122 040 x — 9 12 2

WP—Nick Fure 7 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 K

LP—Mitch Akemann 4 2/3 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K