STRONG PITCHING LEADS MIDDLESEX TO SWEEP OVER SALEM

Middlesex College Baseball struck for three eighth inning runs in Game 1 and then shut out Salem in Game 2 as the Colts swept a three-game set from the Mighty Oaks to move to 17-10 on the season. Salem fell to 8-13.

Middlesex received outstanding pitching all day in pulling off the sweep.

In Game 1, Middlesex scored single runs in the fourth and sixth innings, but each time Salem answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame. The game went to extra innings when Middlesex plated three in the top of the eighth before turning the game over to Gage Bendix (Sophomore/Piscataway, NJ) who pitched a perfect inning to nail down the save.

The hitting stars of Game 1 were Roberto Gonzalez (Freshman/South Plainfield, NJ) and Connor Luckie (Sophomore/Hamilton, NJ). Gonzalez went 4-4 with a double, a run and three RBIs while Luckie continued his torrid pace, going 3-4 with two runs and a double.

Luckie is batting .429 and is third in Region XIX with 30 RBIs in 25 games.

Ryan Pozo (Sophomore/Fords, NJ) pitched the first seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits while striking seven. He is now 4-1 on the year with a 3.86 ERA.

There was less drama in Game 2 as Middlesex scored two in the first and four in the third on their way to an 8-0 victory.

Colby Chippendale (Sophomore/North Port, FL) went 3-4 with two doubles, a run and four RBIs while Jordan Brown (Sophomore/Piscataway, NJ) went 3-3 with a walk. Chippendale (.444) and Brown (.412) are two of the four Colts who are currently batting over .400 this year.

Michael Wansaw (Freshman/Elizabeth, NJ) pitched into the seventh to pick up his second win of the season. The lefty struck out 10 over 6.1 two-hit innings before handing the ball over to Ryan Poulson (Freshman/Milltown, NJ) for the final two outs.

Middlesex has won four straight games and is scheduled to return to the diamond on Wednesday when they face Rockland CC. First pitch is set for 4:00PM.