The opener of Tuesday's Class A American Legion doubleheader at Bill Ingram Field between Twin Falls and Jerome featured the epitome of a comedy of errors.

Cyclones coach Gary Stouder understandably didn't find it very funny.

After playing five innings of strong defensive baseball and holding the Cowboys to a 1-1 tie heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Jerome outfit channeled the Bad News Bears in a pair of surreal plays to help Twin Falls (6-2) plate five runs without a hit in a 6-1 win for the hosts.

Cy Sneed picked up the win for the Cowboys, throwing a complete-game three-hitter and, more importantly, holding Jerome (1-6) off the scoreboard after allowing one run - and two hits - in the first inning.

"You just have to try and throw up as many zeroes as possible," Sneed said. "But I know I have a good defense behind me, so I just let them put the ball in play and let my defense do the rest."

Nolan Stouder was just as sparkling for the Cyclones as he gave up just two hits and one earned run in six innings of work, but his solid effort was undone when the wheels came flying off the Jerome wagon in the sixth.

With the bases loaded and one out, Cody McBride hit a tapper to shortstop, but the throw home was airmailed to the backstop and two runs scored. The very next batter induced another grounder but a second throwing error on a play at the plate allowed two more runs across. Worse for Jerome, the batter tried to take second and forced two more errors - the throw to second was well wide and even eluded the center fielder, and the throw home was offline as well. The end result of those two plate appearances was five runs on no hits, and four Jerome errors.

Jerome committed six errors in total in Game 1.

"Nolan threw a good game," said Gary Stouder. "But the defense behind him … that was the difference in the game."

The Cowboys knew the bats weren't working for them, but they still had a chance to crack Jerome's confidence by stealing bases at every opportunity and lying in wait for the opportune moment to make the difference.

"We just do the little things, and stay patient, because that's what we have to do," said Jayson Welker, who was the team's designated hitter a day after suffering a bruised jaw and chipped tooth when he took a pitch square in the face against Buhl on Monday. "If you can get a team's head down, it's just that much harder for them to pick it back up."

It was just the latest in a string of late-game heroics for Twin Falls, which was cause for both praise and concern for coach Devin Kunz.

"I'm proud of the way the kids compete, but it's really getting to be a bad habit. We didn't win it today, they just gave it to us." Kunz said. "You're not going to be able to score five or six runs in an inning against a lot of the better teams. Stouder is a good pitcher, but the best teams will throw another good pitcher (when he runs into trouble)."

The Cowboys used some seventh-inning magic to earn an 8-7 win in Game 2.

After leading 7-2 entering the seventh, Twin Falls gave up five runs to Jerome in the top of the inning.

But Twin Falls' Drew Starley, who finished 2-for-3, singled and advanced on a bunt to get in scoring position. After two walks, Jared Jared scored Starley on a base hit to end the game.

"I'm happy any time we can get a win, but I don't feel good about the way we played," said Kunz. "We've got a lot to work on."

Jordan doubled in the win and went 2-for-4. Tyler Powell went 2-for-5 with a double to lead Jerome.

Twin Falls hosts the Donnelley's Invitational Thursday through Saturday.

Game 1

Twin Falls 6, Jerome 1

Jerome 100 000 0 - 1 3 6

Twin Falls 001 005 x - 6 2 0

Nolan Stouder and Tyler Powell; Cy Sneed and Cody Burgoyne. W: Sneed. L: Stouder.

Extra-base hits - 2B: Jerome, Stouder.

Game 2

Twin Falls 8, Jerome 7

Jerome 010 100 5 - 7 9 2

Twin Falls 103 0301 - 8 7 1

Scott Speer and Drew Starley. Bryan Harper, Riley Parrish (5) and Tyler Powell. W:Speer. L:Harper.

Extra-base hits - 2B: Jerome, Powell. Twin Falls, Jordan,Starley.