DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette A Crosscutters hat is shown in the dugout at Bowman Field.

ABERDEEN — In what was looking like a game destined to go to sudden death in extra innings, KJ White’s RBI single to centerfield in the top of the ninth inning would prove to be the difference as the Williamsport Crosscutters defeated the Aberdeen IronBirds, 2-1, on Friday night at Ripken Stadium, pushing their win streak to eight straight games.

In addition to White’s game-winning RBI single, Brodey Acres planted the tying run in the top of the seventh inning, also an RBI single to centerfield. Acres’ single would plate Ben Tryon while White’s single plated Acres.

Enter Paulino got the start for Williamsport and went the first four innings, surrendering the only IronBirds run of the game on a 449-foot home run by Hollis Porter, the longest of the season in the MLB Draft League. Colton Kennedy, Jacob Limas (win, 2-0) and Dallas Moran (second save) would combine to go the final five innings with Limas allowing the only IronBirds hit in that span.

Coupled with Williamsport’s win, the Trenton Thunder also lost to the State College Spikes, which closes the gap in the MLB Draft League standings. The Crosscutters now trail the Thunder by just two games with 14 remaining in the first half of the season.

Williamsport and Aberdeen meet again on Saturday at Ripken Stadium in game two of this three-game series. Left-handed pitcher Luke Meyers of Williamsport is expected to get the start on Saturday at 7 p.m.