North Medford's Frankie Rutigliano connects for a one-out double during the 10th inning against South Eugene in Medford Tuesday.

If there is one thing for sure, Frankie Rutigliano must have nerves of steel.

That trait is something needed to pull off the game-winning heroics like he did for the North Medford baseball team in a thrilling 8-7 victory in 10 innings against South Eugene on Tuesday.

Rutigliano ripped a one-out double in the bottom of the 10th inning and then secured his third stolen base of the day to land on third base in the Southwest Conference contest.

With two outs, the Black Tornado senior then made a mad dash to home plate after a wild pitch by Landon Lea to break the stalemate, barely beating a tag by Lea after a quick relay from Axe catcher Jonah Alexander.

“I was looking for the ball in the dirt, 100% ball in the dirt,” said Rutigliano of the frantic finish. “I was looking for it to go outside the circle and when it was, I was like, ‘I need to get going.’”

“It took a lot of adrenaline,” he added. “I was trusting my instincts, I’ve played ball for a long time and was waiting for the right time to take advantage.”

The leadoff hitter was the main source of offense for North Medford (8-1, 2-0 SWC) throughout the day by hitting a triple and a double to go with his three runs scored.

Rutigliano’s ability to routinely get on base and move into scoring position was the swing needed to outlast South Eugene (4-6, 1-3).

“Whenever Frankie steps on the field, he is one of the best players out there,” said North Medford baseball coach Kerry Curtis. “He can steal a base and he is hitting balls into gaps, he just has the ability to change the game.”

That wild ending was only fitting to finish a furious comeback after South Eugene took a commanding 7-3 lead into the top of the seventh inning, using two runs in fifth and four in the sixth.

In those two innings, the Black Tornado were a step slow on defense and could not corral some pop flys. South Eugene pitcher Gabe Garcia also cut their opportunities to a minimum with eight strikeouts and six hits allowed with no walks.

Pinch-hitter Brendan Van Ryzin had the biggest hit of the day for the Axe, smacking a two-run double into left field in the top of the sixth inning to extend the lead to 6-3.

“There were some plays that I know we can make that we didn’t execute well on,” said Curtis. “We gave them some hope and they built on it.”

With a daunting deficit and two outs, North Medford turned the tables by putting South Eugene relief pitcher Matt LeDoux in a squeeze. LeDoux allowed four hits, four runs and three walks.

It all started with Kellen Willer hitting an RBI single to bring Jeremiah Robbins home to start the comeback.

Then Ben Morgan whooped a two-run double before LeDoux walked in Jake Payton to tie the game at 7-all.

Willer went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run, Morgan finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Robbins added two RBIs and a run.

“We’re a better baseball team than we showed today,” said Curtis. “But we are resilient and they know how to win. That’s what I am proud of, that they didn’t give up.”

Echoed Rutigliano: “Resilience was the key, being able to come back in the bottom of the seventh and tie the ballgame up at 7-7 is huge. So just being able to stay consistent as a team showed our resilience.”

North Medford junior Dominic Daffron was also integral to the come-from-behind victory, pitching five strikeouts and allowing three hits in the three extra innings.

Daffron came in clutch with two Axe runners on base with two strikeouts in the top of the 10th inning to give the Black Tornado the chance to win the thriller.

“Honestly, I wasn’t really worried about the guys on the base,” said Daffron. “I know those are important runs, but I was just focused on the batter and throwing strikes.”

Daffron’s poise was needed to calm the Black Tornado after such a back-and-forth battle.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better guy to come in and close,” Rutigliano said about Daffron. “For him to come in and do what he did was huge for us.”

South Eugene 000 024 100 0 — 7 12 1

North Medford 101 010 400 1 — 8 11 3

Garcia, LeDoux (7), Lea (8) and LeDoux, Alexander (7); Robbins, Rayburn (5), Willer (7), Daffron (8) and Newberg, Robbins (5). W — Daffron. L — Lea. 2B — SE: Van Ryzin, Lea; NM: Morgan, Rutigliano, Robbins. 3B — NM: Rutigliano.