Again did Scranton make a bid for a run in the next deal, but once more slipped up when hope had begun to grip the hearts of many of the anxious home rooters.  In this inning “K.K.” struck out, Julius Hobson was sent to the bench on a foul that Wright out in the field managed to settle under after a lively run; Tyree got a Texas league hit that allowed him to plant himself on first, and Thad slipped one over into the bleachers in right that, according to the ground rules, allowed him to go to second.

With men on two bags up came “Just” Smith, who had done so bravely before; but alas! as that Belleville fan had truly said, the local pitcher had tightened up and was not such “easy pickings” now; so Smith only whiffed, and the side was out.

Belleville, much encouraged, started hitting in their half of this inning.  Two good blows, added to a couple of errors, allowed them to send a brace of runners around the circuit.  It began to look serious for Scranton, and Hugh bade his men brace up and do something worth while.

With Scranton at the bat Joe Danvers cracked out a clean single, after he had had seven fouls called on him.  Juggins tried to do the same but failed to connect.  Owen, after two strikes and three balls, again bunted.  He succeeded in shoving Joe down to second, but it went as a sacrifice after all, because they got Owen before he could cross the initial sack.

Again history repeated itself, and it seemed up to Hugh to do something to save the inning from being a goose-egg again.  He braced himself for an effort.  Kinsey apparently considered Hugh dangerous, and was for passing him, in hopes of being better able to strike out the next man up, “K.K.”  But Hugh refused to be denied, and stepping out he smote one of those curves a blow that sent it spinning far out in left, allowing Joe to come in, and placing Hugh on second.

Things began to look a bit brighter now.  Encouraged by the aspect, and possibly the cheers of the Scranton fans, “K.K.” put one over second that allowed Hugh to reach third, no attempt being made to nip the batter at first.

Then up stepped Julius Hobson.  As he was so fond of saying, it was “Hobson’s choice” with him, because he could not bunt, but had to hit out.  Well, he succeeded in doing a mighty thing, for the ball went whizzing far over Major’s head out in center, and started rolling down the little incline.  Hugh and “K.K.” raced home amidst thunderous plaudits, and after them came Julius, plodding along “like an ice-wagon,” some of the anxious ones declared, though after all he had abundance of time to make the complete rounds.

There were no more runs garnered that inning, but then Scranton was not greedy.  Four against two looked mighty good to the visitors.

So the game went on.  It became a regular see-saw sort of affair, first one side being ahead and then the other.

At the end of the seventh, after considerable excitement, the two rival nines found themselves just where they had started in the beginning of the game, for they were tied, eight to eight, and both fighting tooth and nail to keep the other from adding to the score, while also endeavoring to secure a few runs on their own account.  Both pitchers had warmed to their work, however, and runs were likely to be a scarce article from that time on.