The Chesterton baseball team worked overtime on Tuesday night, but opened Duneland Athletic Conference play with a thrilling 2-1 nine-inning victory over Merrillville.

Neither offense could get going as both starting pitchers worked eight innings and the team’s combined for 39 strikeouts. Chesterton’s Jake Post allowed just two hits and struck out 19, while Merrillville’s A. Feleciano struck out 15 and also allowed just two hits.

The game-winner for the Trojans came when Justin Jenks beat out a slow roller to shortstop with two outs and scored Scott Homner from third base.

Offensively, Austin Cooley had a pair of hits and Post helped his own cause in the second with a sacrifice fly.

SCORING BY INNINGS

Merrillville 000 001 000 -- 1 2 3

Chesterton 010 000 001 -- 2 4 1

2B -- A. Feliciano (M). Pitching Summary -- Merrillville -- A. Feliciano (8 IP, 2 H, 15 K, 4 BB), B. Feliciano (2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 K, 0 BB); Chesterton -- Jake Post (8 IP, 2 H, 19 K, 4 BB), Bobby Humphreys (1 IP, 1 H, 3 K, 0 BB). WP -- Humphreys.